THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST 


BY 

MARTHA   FINLEY, 


Author  of  "THE  ELSIE  BOOKS,"  "  SIGNING  THE  CONTRACT,"  "WANTED 
A  PEDIGREE,"  "  THE  MILDRED  SERIES,"  ETC.,  ETC. 


"  He  puts  a  thorn  in  our  nest  to  drive  us  to  the  wing,  that  we  may  not  be 
grovellers  forever." 


NEW  YORK 

DODD,  MEAD  &  COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS 


COPYRIGHT,  1886, 
BY 

DODD,  MEAD  &  COMPANY. 


5125822 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 


CHAPTER  I. 

' '  A  malady 
Preys  on  my  heart,  that  medicine  cannot  reach. " 

OUR  story  opens  in  spring  of  1797,  in  a  sequestered 
valley  in  Western  Pennsylvania.  On  a  green  hillside 
dotted  here  and  there  with  stately  oaks  and  elms,  and 
sloping  toward  the  road,  beyond  which  flowed  the  clear 
waters  of  a  mountain  stream,  stood  a  brick  farm-house — 
large,  roomy,  substantial  ;  beautiful  with  climbing  vines 
and  flowering  shrubs.  Orchard,  meadow,  wheat  and 
corn  fields  stretched  away  on  either  hand,  shut  in  by  dense 
forests  and  wooded  hills ;  beyond  and  above  which, 
toward  the  right,  towered  the  giant  Alleghenies  ;  their 
summits,  still  white  from  the  storms  of  the  past  winter, 
lying  like  a  bank  of  snowy  clouds  against  the  eastern 
horizon. 

But  night  drew  on  apace,  the  light  was  fast  fading  even 
from  the  mountain  tops,  and  down  in  the  valley  it  was 
already  so  dark  that  only  the  outlines  of  objects  close  at 
hand  were  discernible  as  our  hero,  Kenneth  Clendenin, 
mounted  upon  Romeo,  his  gallant  steed,  entered  it  from 
the  west  and  slowly  wended  his  way  toward  its  one 
solitary  dwelling.  The  road  was  familiar  to  both  man 
and  horse,  and  ere  long  they  had  reached  the  gate. 


8  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST, 

A  negro  boy  perched  on  the  top  of  the  fence,  with  his 
hands  in  his  pockets,  whistling  softly  to  himself  in  the 
dark,  broke  off  suddenly  in  the  middle  of  his  tune,  sprang 
nimbly  to  the  ground  and  took  the  bridle,  exclaiming, 
"  Ki,  Massa  Doctah  !  t'o't  dat  you  and  ole  Romeo  comin' 
up  de  road.  Ole  Aunt  Vashti  she  tole  me  watch  out 
hyar  an'  ax  you  ef  you's  had  yo'  suppah,  sah  ?" 

"  Yes,  Zeb,  tell  her  I  have  and  shall  want  nothing 
more  to-night,"  answered  the  traveller,  alighting.  "  Rub 
Romeo  down  and  give  him  a  good  feed." 

"  Dat  I  will,  Massa  Doctah  ;  I  neber  'gleets  ole 
Romeo,"  returned  the  lad,  vaulting  into  the  saddle  and 
cantering  off  to  the  stable,  while  the  gentleman  walked 
quickly  up  the  path  leading  to  the  house. 

Within  a  wood  fire  burned  brightly  in  the  wide  chim- 
ney of  the  living  room.  An  arm-chair  stood  on  each  side 
of  the  hearth,  the  master  of  the  house  occupying  one, 
his  wife  the  other,  she  with  her  knitting,  he  half  crouching 
over  the  fire,  watching  the  flickering  flames  in  moody 
silence. 

At  a  table  on  the  farther  side  of  the  room,  a  little 
girl  was  poring  over  a  book  by  the  light  of  a  tallow 
candle.  She  had  seemed  very  intent  upon  its  pages,  but 
at  the  first  sound  of  the  approaching  footsteps  sprang  up 
and  ran  to  open  the  door. 

"  At  last,  Kenneth!  "  she  cried,  in  a  joyous  but  subdued 
tone. 

"  Yes,  little  sister,"  he  said,  laying  his  hand  caressingly 
for  an  instant  on  her  pretty  brown  hair,  and  smiling  into 
the  bright,  dark  eyes.  "  I'm  glad  to  find  you  up,  I 
thought  you  went  to  bed  with  the  chickens." 

"  Not  to-night— the  last — O  Kenneth  !  Kenneth  !  " 
and  she  burst  into  passionate  weeping. 


THE   THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  9 

"  Marian,  my  little  pet  sister,"  he  whispered,  sitting 
down  and  drawing  her  to  his  breast  with  a  tender  caress, 
"  try  to  be  cheerful  for  mother's  sake." 

"  I  will,"  she  answered,  hastily  wiping  away  her  tears. 
"  I  have  a  parting  present  for  you,  Kenneth,"  she  went  on 
with  a  determined  effort  to  seem  bright  and  gay;  "  a  pair 
of  stockings  made  of  my  own  lamb's  wool,  and  every 
stitch  knit  by  my  own  fingers — I  took  the  last  to-night, 
and  you're  to  travel  in  them." 

"  Many  thanks,"  he  said,  "  my  feet  will  surely  keep 
warm  in  such  hose,  though  the  nights  are  still  very 
cool." 

"  Yes,  come  nearer  to  the  fire,  Kenneth,"  said  the 
mother,  who  had  been  watching  the  two,  silently,  but 
with  glistening  eyes. 

She  was  a  woman  of  middle  age,  gentle  mannered,  with 
a  low  and  peculiarly  sweet-toned  voice,  a  tall  and  stately 
figure,  and  a  face  that  told  a  story  of  trial  and  sorrow 
borne  with  patience  and  resignation. 

Kenneth  resembled  her  strongly  in  person  and  man- 
ner, he  had  the  same  noble  contour  of  features — the 
broad  high  forehead,  the  large  dark  gray  eye,  keen  yet 
tender  in  expression. 

"Thank  you,"  he  said,  coming  forward  and  taking 
his  stand  upon  the  hearth,  where  the  firelight  fell  full  upon 
his  tall,  manly  form,  "  its  warmth  is  by  no  means  un- 
pleasant." 

"  Sit  down,  Kenneth  ;  sit  down,  and  take  me  on  your 
knee,"  said  Marian,  bringing  him  a  chair. 

"  Are  you  not  growing  rather  large  and  heavy  for 
that  ?  "  the  mother  asked  with  a  slight  smile,  as  Kenneth 
good-humoredly  complied  with  the  request. 

"  I'll  be  bigger  and  heavier  before  he  has  another 


10  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

chance,"  remarked  the  child,  putting  an  arm  about 
Kenneth's  neck  and  gazing  wistfully  into  his  eyes. 

"  But  not  too  big,  never  too  big,  to  take  your  seat 
here,"  he  responded,  drawing  her  closer.  "  Ah,  there  will 
be  many  a  lonely  hour  when  I  shall  long  for  my  little 
sister,  long  to  feel  her  weight  upon  my  knee,  her  arm 
about  my  neck,  just  as  I  feel  them  now." 

"  Why  do  you  all  talk  so  much  ?  "  queried  the  older  man 
sharply,  speaking  for  the  first  time  since  Kenneth's 
entrance,  and  turning  somewhat  angrily  toward  the  little 
group.  "  You  leave  me  no  peace  of  my  life  with  your 
incessant  gabble,  gabble." 

With  the  last  word  he  rose  and  withdrew  to  an  inner 
room. 

No  one  answered  or  tried  to  detain  him  :  the  shade  of 
sadness  deepened  slightly  on  the  mother's  calm  face,  and 
Marian's  arm  tightened  its  hold  on  Kenneth's  neck,  but 
no  one  spoke  and  the  room  was  very  still  for  a  moment. 

Then  the  mother,  glancing  at  the  dial-plate  of  a  tall 
old-fashioned  clock,  ticking  in  a  corner,  said,  "  Marian, 
my  child,  it  is  growing  late,  and  you  will  want  to  be  up 
betimes  in  the  morning." 

The  little  girl,  heaving  a  sigh,  reluctantly  bade  them 
good-night  and  retired. 

Kenneth  looked  after  her. 

"  What  a  sweet  creature  she  is  !  what  a  lovely  woman 
a  few  years  will  make  of  her,"  he  said  ;  but  catching  the 
expression  of  the  mother's  countenance,  he  ended 
abruptly,  with  almost  a  groan. 

She  had  dropped  her  knitting  in  her  lap,  her  face  had 
grown  very  pale,  her  lips  quivered,  and  there  was  a  look 
of  anguish  in  her  eyes. 

Kenneth  longed  to  comfort  her,  but  could  find  no 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  1 1 

words.  He  brought  a  glass  of  water  and  held  it  to  her 
lips. 

She  swallowed  a  mouthful,  and  as  he  set  the  glass  down 
on  a  stand  by  her  side,  took  up  her  work  again  with  a 
slight  sigh.  The  spasm  of  pain  seemed  to  have  passed, 
and  her  face  resumed  its  accustomed  expression  of  patient 
endurance. 

He  stood  gazing  down  on  her,  his  eyes  full  of  a  wist- 
ful tenderness. 

"  Mother,"  he  said,  bending  over  her  and  speaking  in  a 
voice  scarce  raised  above  a  whisper,  "  our  God  is  very 
good,  very  merciful,  surely  He  will  hear  our  united 
prayers  that  it — that  fearful  curse — may  never  light  on 
her." 

"  His  will  be  done  with  me  and  mine,"  she  answered 
low  and  tremulously,  "  Though  He  slay  me,  yet  will  I 
trust  in  Him." 

He  turned  and  paced  the  room  for  several  minutes, 
then  came  back  to  her  side. 

"  And  I — am  I  right  to  go  and  leave  you  thus  ? — alone 
— unprotected,  if — " 

She  looked  up  with  a  great  courage  in  her  noble  face. 
"  Yes,  go,  Kenneth  ;  I  do  not  fear,  and  it  is  best  for  you 
and  for  him.  You  forget  how  fully  we  have  both  been 
convinced  of  that." 

"  How  brave  you  are,  how  strong  in  faith  !  "  he  cried 
admiringly. 

She  shook  her  head  in  dissent.  "  You  do  not  know 
how  my  heart  fails  me  at  times  when  I  think  of  my  dear 
boy  far  away  in  that  Northwestern  Territory  fighting  his 
battle  with  the  world  among  strangers,  often  exposed  to 
the  pitiless  storms,  or  in  danger  from  wild  beasts  or 
savage  Indians  ;  coming  home  from  his  long  rides  over 


12         THE  THORN  JN  THE  NEST. 

prairies  and  through  forests,  wet,  cold,  and  weary,  and 
finding  no  one  to  cheer  him  and  comfort  him." 

There  were  tears  in  her  eyes  and  in  her  voice. 

"  Don't  be  troubled  about  me,"  Kenneth  said 
cheerily,  "  I  am  young  and  vigorous,  and  shall  rather 
enjoy  roughing  it,  in  the  pursuit  of  my  calling  ? " 

"  A  noble  calling  to  one  who  follows  it  in  the  right 
spirit,  Kenneth.  Your  arrangements  are  all  completed  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  we  meet  at  the  cross-roads  an  hour  after  sun- 
rise." 

She  gave  him  a  troubled,  anxious  look,  opened  her 
lips  as  if  to  speak,  then  closed  them  again. 

"  What  is  it,  mother  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Why  should  you 
hesitate  to  say  to  me  all  that  is  in  your  heart  ?  " 

"  Miss  Lamar  !  I  saw  her  the  other  day.  She  is  sweet 
and  fair  to  look  upon,  and  very  winsome  in  her  ways, 
but—" 

The  sentence  was  left  unfinished,  while  her  eyes  sought 
his  with  a  yearning,  wistful  look. 

"  I  will  be  on  my  guard,"  he  said,  huskily.  "  I  know 
that  marriage  is  not  for  me — as  a  physician  I  am  con- 
vinced of  it  as  another  might  not  be — unless — oh,  there 
will  come  to  me,  at  times,  a  wild  hope  that  there  may  one 
day  be  an  end  to  this  suspense — this  torturing  doubt  and 
fear  !  " 

"  Too  many  years  have  passed,"  she  answered  sadly. 
"  I  have  no  longer  any  expectation  that  it  will  ever  be 
cleared  up  this  side  the  grave." 

"  Do  not  say  it,"  he  entreated,  "  it  must  be  done  !  I 
shall  never  resign  hope  till — I  have  attained  to  some  cer- 
tainty ;  and  yet,  and  yet — in  either  case  it  must  be  grief 
of  heart  to  me." 

"  My  poor  boy  !  "  she  murmured,  regarding  him  with 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         13 

tenderly  compassionate  gaze  ;  then  after  a  pause,  "  Ken- 
neth," she  remarked,  "  there  is  little  Clendenin  about 
you  except  the  name  ;  you  strongly  resemble  my  mother's 
family  in  both  disposition  and  personal  appearance." 

"  And  yet,"  he  said,  with  a  melancholy  smile,  "  there  is 
nothing  more  certain  than  that  I  am  a  Clendenin." 

"  Well,"  she  said,  gazing  upon  him  with  loving  pride, 
yet  with  eyes  dim  with  unshed  tears,  "  it  is  a  family  of  no 
mean  extraction  ;  and  an  honest,  pious  ancestry  is  some- 
thing to  be  thankful  for." 


CHAPTER  II. 

KENNETH  CLENDENIN,  having  completed  his  medical 
studies  at  Philadelphia,  graduated  with  honor,  and  after- 
ward spent  a  year  in  the  hospitals  there,  was  now  about 
emigrating  to  Chillicothe,  a  town  recently  laid  out  by 
General  Nathaniel  Massie,  in  what  was  then  the  North- 
western Territory  ;  now  the  state  of  Ohio. 

None  of  his  family  were  to  accompany  him,  but  he  was 
to  act  as  escort  to  two  ladies,  who,  with  their  children, 
were  also  going  thither  to  join  their  husbands.  One 
of  them  had  under  her  care  a  young  orphan  girl,  bound 
to  the  same  place,  where  she  was  to  make  her  home  with 
a  married  brother,  Major  Lamar. 

The  Clendenin  household  were  early  astir  on  the  morn- 
ing succeeding  the  events  related  in  the  former  chapter. 
Before  the  sun  had  peeped  above  the  mountain  tops  they 
were  summoned  to  a  savory  and  substantial  breakfast, 
prepared  by  old  Yashti,  who  had  been  cook  in  the  family 
since  Kenneth's  earliest  recollection. 

He  was  the  first  to  answer  the  call  ;  coming  in  from  a 
farewell  tramp  about  the  premises,  to  find  the  faithful 
old  creature  in  the  act  of  setting  the  last  dish  upon  the 
table. 

"  I'se  done  my  bes',  honey,"  she  said  to  him,  with  tears 
in  her  eyes.  "  It  mos'  breaks  dis  ole  heart  to  link  you 
won't  eat  no  mo"  dis  chile's  cookin'." 


THE  y&OELV  IN  THE  NEST.  15 

"  I  don't  know  that,  Aunt  Vashti,"  he  responded,  smil- 
ing, "  I'm  not  going  quite  out  of  the  world." 

"  Tears  mighty  like  it,  honey,"  she  said  ;  then  seeing 
his  eyes  wandering  uneasily  about  the  room  and  the 
porch  beyond,  "  You's  lookin'  for  ole  marster  ? "  she 
whispered,  coming  close  to  his  side.  "  He  was  off  to  de 
woods  wid  his  gun  'fore  daylight.  'Spect  he  didn't  want 
to  say  good -by." 

"  Probably,"  he  answered,  with  a  slight  sigh  ;  then 
turned  with  an  affectionate  greeting  to  his  mother  and 
Marian,  who  entered  the  room  at  that  instant. 

They  sat  down  at  once  to  their  repast,  without  the  bus- 
band  and  father,  no  one  remarking  upon  his  absence,  or 
asking  any  questions  in  regard  to  it  ;  the  meal  was, 
indeed,  almost  a  silent  one  ;  the  hearts  were  too  full  for 
much  speech. 

Kenneth's  saddle-bags  and  portmanteau  were  in  readi- 
ness, packed  by  the  mother's  loving  hands,  and  Romeo 
stood  pawing  at  the  gate.  Zeb's  horse,  too,  was  there, 
tied  to  the  fence  near  by,  while  its  rider  was  eating  his 
breakfast  in  the  kitchen. 

The  travelers  had  no  time  for  loitering,  for  many 
miles  of  rough  road  must  be  passed  over  that  day. 

The  adieus  were  quickly  spoken,  and  the  windings  of 
the  road  soon  hid  master  and  servant  from  the  view  of 
the  weeping,  disconsolate  Marian  and  her  sorrowful- 
faced  mother. 

Kenneth's  heart,  too,  was  heavy,  spite  of  the  cheerful  air 
he  had  assumed  for  the  sake  of  the  dear  ones  he  was 
leaving  behind  ;  but  Zeb  seemed  in  fine  spirits.  He  was 
young  and  light-hearted,  had  no  relatives  to  leave,  in  fact 
loved  "  de  doctah  "  better  than  any  other  human  crea- 
ture. 


1 6  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

And  he  was  going  to  see  the  world,  a  prospect  which 
thrilled  him  with  delight. 

The  sun  was  now  shining  brightly,  birds  sang  cheerily 
in  the  trees  that  bordered  the  roadside,  the  morning  air 
was  fresh  and  exhilarating,  and  Zeb's  spirits  rose  high 
as  he  cantered  along  at  a  respectful  distance  behind  his 
master. 

A  mile  away  from  Glen  Forest,  as  the  Clendenin  place 
was  called,  they  came  out  upon  a  cleared  place  where 
stood  a  little  country  church  in  the  midst  of  an  enclosure, 
whose  grass-covered  mounds,  with  here  and  there  a  stone 
slab,  proclaimed  it  the  settlers'  last  resting  place. 

Here  Kenneth  drew  rein,  and  calling  to  Zeb  bade  him 
ride  on  to  the  cross-roads  and  there  await  his  coming  ; 
and  if  their  fellow  travellers  should  arrive  first,  tell  them 
he  would  join  them  in  a  few  moments. 

"  Yes,  sah,"  returned  the  lad,  whipping  up  his  horse, 
while  Kenneth  dismounted  and  made  his  way  to  a  spot 
where  four  or  five  little  graves,  and  one  somewhat  longer, 
were  ranged  side  by  side. 

Giving  only  a  glance  at  the  others,  the  young  man 
turned  to  this  last  and  stood  for  some  moments  gazing 
down  upon  it  with  a  look  of  grave,  sad  tenderness  upon 
his  noble,  manly  face. 

"  Angus  Clendenin,  aged  fourteen,"  he  murmured  in 
low,  moved  tones,  reading  from  the  inscription  on  the 
headstone.  "  Ah,  brother  beloved,  why  were  we  so  soon 
parted  by  grim  death  ?  We  whose  hearts  were  knit 
together  as  the  hearts  of  David  and  Jonathan  !  " 

But  time  pressed  and  he  must  away.  Plucking  a  violet 
from  the  sod  that  covered  the  sleeping  dust,  and  placing 
it  carefully  between  the  leaves  of  his  note  book,  he 
remounted  and  pursued  his  journey. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.          17 

As  he  reached  the  place  of  rendezvous,  where  Zeb  was 
lazily  sunning  himself,  seated  on  a  fallen  tree,  with  his 
horse's  bridle  in  his  hand,  three  large  wagons  came  toil- 
ing along  the  intersecting  roads  ;  beside  the  foremost  a 
graceful  girlish  figure,  tastefully  attired  in  riding  hat  and 
habit,  and  mounted  upon  a  beautiful  and  spirited  pony, 
which  she  was  managing  with  the  utmost  apparent  ease 
and  skill  ;  curbing  its  evident  impatience  to  outstrip  the 
slower  and  more  clumsily  built  animals  attached  to  the 
vehicles. 

At  sight  of  Kenneth,  however,  she  loosened  her  hold 
upon  the  rein,  and  came  cantering  briskly  up  with  a  gay 
"  Good-morning,  Dr.  Clendenin." 

The  face  that  met  his  gaze  was  so  fair  and  winsome,  so 
bright  with  youthful  animation,  that  the  grave  young 
doctor  could  not  forbear  a  smile  as  he  returned  her 
greeting  with  courtly  grace. 

Nellie  Lamar's  beauty  was  of  a  very  delicate  type — a 
sylph-like  form,  delicately  moulded  features,  a  sweet, 
innocent  expression,  complexion  of  lilies  and  roses,  a 
profusion  of  pale  golden  hair,  beautifully  arched  and 
pencilled  brows,  large  melting  blue  eyes,  "  deeply,  darkly, 
beautifully  blue,"  and  fringed  with  heavy  silken  lashes, 
many  shades  darker  than  the  hair. 

She  was  but  fifteen,  just  out  of  school  and  quite  as 
guileless  and  innocent  as  she  looked. 

A  charming  blush  mantled  her  cheek  as  she  caught  the 
admiring  glance  of  Kenneth's  eye. 

"  So,  so,  Fairy,  be  quiet,  will  you  ?  "  she  said,  tighten- 
ing her  rein  with  one  hand,  while  bending  low  over  her 
pony's  neck  she  softly  patted  and  stroked  it  with  the 
other.  "  If  those  clumsy,  slow-moving  creatures  would 
but  travel  faster  !  "  she  exclaimed  with  pretty  petulance, 


1 8  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

lifting  her  head  again  and  sending  an  impatient  glance 
in  the  direction  of  the  approaching  wagons.  "  Neither 
Fairy  nor  I  can  well  brook  having  to  keep  pace  with 
them." 

"  They  are  somewhat  more  heavily  laden  than  she,"  he 
said  smilingly,  with  some  difficulty  restraining  the  impet- 
uosity of  his  own  steed,  as  he  spoke  ;  "  she  should  have 
charity  for  them.  But  I  fear  Romeo  is  disposed  to  join 
her  in  leaving  them  behind.  We  will  lead  the  van,  how- 
ever, Miss  Lamar,  and  sometimes  indulge  these  restless 
spirits  in  a  run  of  a  few  miles  ahead  ;  if  it  is  but  to 
return  again." 

"  Ah,  that  will  be  delightful  !  "  she  cried  with  almost 
childish  vehemence.  "  I  have  fairly  dreaded  the  thought 
of  travelling  at  this  snail's  pace  all  the  way  to  Chillicothe." 

The  wagons  had  now  come  up,  and  from  the  foremost 
peered  out  two  chubby,  rosy  boy  faces. 

"  O  Doctor  Clendenin  !  won't  you  take  me  up  behind 
you  ? "  shouted  the  owner  of  one,  the  other  chiming  in, 
"  Me,  too,  doctor,  me  too  !  " 

"  Hush,  Tom  !  hush,  Billy  !  you  should  not  ask  such  a 
thing.  Doctor,  don't  mind  them,"  quickly  interposed  the 
mother,  showing  her  cheery,  matronly  face  alongside  of 
theirs. 

"Good  morning,  Mrs.  Nash,"  Kenneth  said,  moving  to 
the  side  of  the  wagon.  "  We  have  an  auspicious  day  for 
starting  upon  our  long  journey." 

"  Yes,  indeed,  doctor ;  and  how  thankful  I  am  that 
we're  all  well  and  so  comfortably  accommodated." 

"  You  don't  seem  to  care  at  all  for  the  old  home  scenes 
and  friends  we're  leaving  behind,  Sarah,"  whined  a 
woman's  voice  from  the  second  vehicle  ;  "  but  for  my 
part  I  shall  never,  never  forget  them,  and  I  think  it's 


THE  THORX  IN  THE  NEST.          19 

dreadfully  hard  I  should  have  to  go  away  from  them  all 
into  that  howling  wilderness,  as  one  may  say,"  and  the 
voice  was  lost  in  a  burst  of  sobs. 

"  But  we're  going  to  our  husbands,  Nancy,  and  they 
ought  to  be  more  to  us  than  all  the  world  beside,"  re- 
turned Mrs.  Nash,  cheerfully.  "  Dear  me,  I'm  just  as 
glad  as  can  be  to  think  that  in  a  few  weeks  my  Robert 
and  I  will  be  together  again  for  good  and  all." 

It  was  characteristic  of  the  two,  who  were  sisters-in-law, 
the  one  always  looking  at  the  bright  side  of  life,  the  other 
at  the  dark  ;  the  one  counting  up  her  mercies,  the  other 
her  trials. 

"  It'll  be  a  rough,  hard  journey,  and  some  of  us  will  be 
sure  to  get  sick,"  sighed  Mrs.  Barbour.  "  Flora's  always 
been  a  delicate  child,  and  I'll  never  take  her  there  alive." 

"  She's  looking  well,"  remarked  Kenneth,  glancing  in 
at  tfee  bright  eyes  and  pink  cheeks  of  a  little  girl,  sitting 
contentedly  by  Mrs.  Barbour's  side. 

"  And  we'll  have  the  doctor  handy  all  the  way,  you 
know,"  suggested  Mrs.  Nash.  "  Tom,  Tom,  be  quiet," 
for  the  boy  was  still  clamoring  for  a  ride  on  Romeo. 

"  So  you  shall,"  Kenneth  said,  lifting  him  to  the 
coveted  place,  "  and,  Billy,  you  shall  have  your  turn 
another  time." 

The  third  wagon  carried  no  passenger  ;  its  load  con- 
sisting of  baggage,  household  stuff,  a  tent  and  provision 
for  the  way,  for  there  were  few  houses  of  entertainment 
on  the  route  and  it  would  often  be  necessary  to  camp  out 
for  the  night. 

The  roads  were  new  and  rough  ;  in  many  places  in 
very  bad  condition.  Sometimes  there  was  a  mere  bridle 
path,  and  bushes  and  branches  must  be  cut  away,  or 
fallen  trees  removed,  to  allow  the  wagons  to  pass. 


20          THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

At  noon  of  this  first  day  they  halted  on  the  banks  of  a 
bright  little  stream,  dined  upon  such  fare  as  they  had 
brought  with  them,  and  rested  for  an  hour  or  two  ; 
allowing  their  horses  to  graze  and  the  children  to  disport 
themselves  in  racing  about  through  the  underbrush  in 
search  of  wild  flowers,  in  which  Miss  Nell  presently 
joined  them. 

Kenneth,  leaving  the  two  women  sitting  together  on  a 
log,  strolled  away  in  another  direction,  toward  Zeb  and 
the  drivers  who  were  keeping  guard  over  the  horses  and 
wagons. 

"  Dear  me  !  "  sighed  Mrs.  Barbour,  "what  a  journey 
we  have  before  us  !  how  we're  ever  to  stand  it  I  don't 
know  ;  I  am  tired  already." 

"  Already  !  "  echoed  her  sister  ;  "  why  I  don't  intend 
to  be  really  tired  for  a  week." 

"  I'd  like  to  know  what  intentions  have  to  do  with 
it,"  returned  the  first  speaker,  rather  angrily. 

"  A  good  deal,  I  assure  you,"  asserted  Mrs.  Nash,  with 
decision.  "  Make  up  your  mind  to  be  miserable  and  you 
can't  fail  to  be  so  ;  resolve  to  enjoy  yourself,  and  you're 
almost  equally  sure  to  do  that." 

"  Humph  !  "  grunted  her  companion,  turning  away 
with  a  scornful  toss  of  the  head. 

"  What's  wrong  ?  "  asked  Miss  Lamar,  coming  toward 
them  with  her  hands  full  of  delicate  spring  blossoms. 

"  Wrong  !  where  ?  "  returned  Mrs.  Barbour,  sharply, 
thinking  the  query  aimed  at  her. 

"  Yonder,"  Nell  answered,  gazing  anxiously  in  the 
direction  of  the  group  about  the  wagons  ;  "  they  all  seem 
to  be  busying  themselves  about  that  wheel." 

"  There,  I  knew  it  !  "  cried  Mrs.  Barbour,  "  something's 
broken,  and  we'll  be  kept  here  all  night ;  and  we'll  be 


THE   THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  21 

having  such  accidents  all  the  way.  Nobody  ever  was  so 
unfortunate  as  I  am." 

"  Why  you  more  than  the  rest  of  us  ? "  asked  her  sister, 
dryly.  "  If  one  is  delayed,  we  all  are." 

"  It  was  only  a  broken  linchpin,  already  replaced  by 
another,"  announced  Kenneth  a  few  moments  later ; 
"  and  now,  if  you  please,  ladies,  we  will  go  on  our  way 
again." 

At  dusk  the  party  arrived  at  a  lonely  log  cabin  in  the 
woods,  where  they  found  shelter  for  the  night. 

Fare  and  accommodations  were  none  of  the  best — the 
one  consisting  of  fat  pork,  hominy,  and  coarse  corn  bread, 
the  other  of  hastily  improvised  beds,  upon  the  floor  of  the 
lower  room  for  the  women  and  children  ;  upon  that  of 
the  loft  overhead  for  the  men. 

Mrs.  Barbour,  according  to  her  wont,  passed  the  time 
previous  to  retiring  in  fretting  and  complaining  ;  talking 
of  herself  as  the  most  ill-used  and  unfortunate  of  the 
human  race,  though  no  one  else  in  the  company  was 
in  any  respect  faring  better  than  she,  and  all  were  not 
only  bearing  their  discomforts  with  patience  and  resig- 
nation, but  cheerfully  and  with  an  emotion  of  thankful- 
ness that  they  had  a  roof  over  their  heads  ;  as  a  heavy 
rain  storm  had  come  on  shortly  after  their  arrival,  and 
continued  till  near  morning. 

But  that  was  another  of  the  complainer's  grievances  ; 
"  The  roads  would  be  flooded,  the  streams  so  swollen 
that  it  would  be  impossible  to  cross  with  the  wagons." 

Nell,  hearing  these  doleful  prognostications,  turned  an 
anxious  enquiring  look  upon  Kenneth. 

"  Do  not  be  alarmed,"  he  said,  leaning  toward  her, 
and  speaking  in  an  undertone  of  quiet  assurance  :  "  the 
rain  is  much  needed  and  therefore  a  cause  for  thankful- 


22          THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

ness  ;  and  if  streams  cannot  be  forded  immediately,  we 
can  encamp  beside  them  and  wait  for  the  abating  of  the 
waters." 

"  But  our  provisions  may  give  out,"  she  suggested. 

"  Then  we  will  look  for  game  in  the  woods,  and  fish 
in  the  streams.  No  fear,  little  lady,  that  we  shall  not  be 
fed." 

Nell  liked  the  title,  and  felt  it  restful  to  lean  upon  one 
who  showed  so  much  quiet  confidence  in — was  it 
his  own  powers  and  resources  or  something  higher  ? 

The  journey  was  a  tedious  and  trying  one,  occupying 
several  weeks  ;  and  Kenneth's  office  as  leader  of  the 
party  was  no  sinecure. 

There  were  many  vexatious  delays,  some  occasioned 
by  the  wretched  state  of  the  roads,  others  incident  to  the 
moving  of  the  cumbrous  and  heavily  laden  wagons  ; 
which  latter  might  have  been  avoided  had  he  travelled 
alone,  or  in  company  with  none  but  equestrians. 

But  Kenneth  was  of  too  noble  and  unselfish  a  nature 
to  grudge  the  cost  of  kindness  to  others. 

And  on  him  fell  all  the  care  and  responsibility  of 
directing,  controlling,  and  providing  ways  and  means  ; 
settling  disputes  among  the  drivers,  and  attending  to 
the  safety  and  comfort  of  the  women  and  children. 

These  various  duties  were  performed  with  the  utmost 
fidelity,  energy,  and  tact,  and  all  annoyances  borne  with 
unvarying  patience  and  cheerfulness  ;  even  Mrs.  Bar- 
bour's  peevish  complainings  and  martyrlike  airs  failing 
to  move  him  out  of  his  quiet  self-possession,  or  goad  him 
into  treating  her  with  anything  but  the  greatest  courtesy 
and  kindness. 

He  showed  the  same  to  all  in  the  little  company,  and 
to  those  with  whom  they  sought  temporary  lodgings  here 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         23 

and  there  along  the  route  ;  more  especially  to  any  who 
were  sick,  exercising  his  skill  as  a  physician  for  their 
relief,  and  that  without  charge,  though  sometimes  it 
cost  him  the  loss  of  a  much  needed  night's  rest. 

Mrs.  Barbour  was  too  completely  wrapped  up  in  her- 
self and  her  own  grievances,  real  or  imaginary,  to  take 
note  of  these  things  beyond  a  passing  feeling  of  wonder 
that  Dr.  Clendenin  should  bestow  so  much  attention 
upon  people  who  were  not  likely  ever  to  make  him  any 
return  ;  but  ere  the  journey's  end  they  had  won  for  him 
a  very  high  place  in  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the 
other  adults  of  the  party,  and  in  the  hearts  of  the 
children. 

Nell,  who  was  often  sorely  tried  by  these  same  vexa- 
tions and  delays,  formed  an  unbounded  admiration  for 
Kenneth's  powers  of  forbearance  and  self-control. 

She  gave  expression  to  it  in  talking  with  Mrs.  Nash, 
as  they  found  themselves  alone  for  a  few  moments  on 
the  evening  previous  to  their  arrival  at  their  destina- 
tion. 

"  Yes,"  was  the  reply,  "  I  am  astonished  at  his  patience  ; 
particularly  with  Nancy.  She  exasperates  me  beyond 
everything — she  is  such  a  martyr.  Yes,  always,  in  all 
places,  and  under  all  circumstances,  she's  a  martyr." 


CHAPTER  III. 

WITHIN  five  or  six  miles  of  Chillicothe  an  approaching 
hojjseman  was  espied  by  our  travellers,  and,  43  he  drew 
near,  Mrs.  Nash  and  her  two  boys  recognized  him  with  a 
simultaneous  cry  of  delight. 

"Robert!" 

"  Father,  father  !  " 

To  which  he  responded  with  a  glad  "  Hurrah  !  so 
there  you  are  at  last !  "  as  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and 
came  dashing  up  to  the  side  of  the  wagon  containing  his 
wife  and  children. 

There  was  a  halt  of  several  minutes  while  joyous 
greetings,  and  eager  questions  and  answers  were 
exchanged  ;  then  leaving  Mr.  Nash  in  charge  of  the 
slow-moving  vehicles,  Kenneth  and  Nellie  rode  on 
toward  the  town. 

It  was  the  afternoon  of  a  perfect  day  in  May.  Their 
path  led  them,  now  through  the  depths  of  a  forest  where 
grew  in  abundance  the  sugar  maple,  black  walnut,  buck- 
eye, hackberry,  cherry  and  other  trees  which  give  evi- 
dence of  a  rich  soil  ;  now  across  a  beautiful  prairie 
covered  with  grass  from  four  to  five  feet  high,  and 
spangled  with  loveliest  wild  flowers,  which  with  the 
blossoms  of  the  plum  tree,  mulberry,  crab  apple  and  red 
and  black  haw,  fringing  the  outer  edge  of  the  prairies, 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         25 

filled  the  air  with  delicious  perfume,  and  feasted  the  eye 
with  beauty. 

Nellie  was  in  ecstasies.  "  It  is  a  paradise,  Dr.  Clen- 
denin  !  is  it  not  ? "  she  cried. 

"An earthly  one,"  he  answered  with  his  grave  kindly 
smile.  "  May  you  find  much  happiness  in  it,  little 
lady." 

"  And  you  too,  doctor,"  she  said  gaily,  turning  her 
bright,  winsome  face  to  his.  "  I'm  sure  you  ought." 

"  You  think  it  a  duty  to  be  happy?  and  you  are  right." 

"  A  duty  ?  I  never  thought  of  it  in  that  light,"  she 
said  laughing  lightly. 

"  Ah  !  are  we  not  bidden  to  be  content  with  such 
things  as  we  have,  and  to  be  always  rejoicing  ?  " 

They  had  become  excellent  friends — these  two — as 
day  after  day  they  rode  side  by  side  a  little  in  advance 
of  the  wagons. 

There  was  some  ten  years  difference  in  their  ages,  a 
good  deal  seemingly  at  Nell's  time  of  life.  She  looked 
up  to  Kenneth  as  to  one  much  older  and  wiser  than  her- 
self, and  won  by  his  ever  ready  sympathy  and  interest, 
talked  to  him  with  the  charming  frankness  of  her  con- 
fiding nature  and  extreme  youth.  She  told  the  history  of 
her  past  years,  particularly  the  last  five,  which  had 
been  spent  in  a  boarding  school  in  Philadelphia,  and 
about  the  brother  she  was  going  to  : — how  he  fought 
bravely  for  his  country  in  the  Continental  army,  had  been 
taken  prisoner  by  the  British,  what  he  had  suffered  on 
one  of  those  dreadful  prison-ships,  till  peace  at  last  set 
him  free,  that  he  had  married  since  and  now  had  a 
family  of  children. 

He  was  very  much  older  than  herself,  she  explained, 
being  the  eldest  born  while  she  was  the  youngest,  and 


26         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

as  both  parents  had  died  while  she  was  a  mere  infant, 
he  was  like  a  father  to  her.  Kenneth  seldom  spoke  of 
himself,  but  she  sometimes  led  him  on  by  her  questions 
to  talk  of  his  home  at  Glen  Forest,  his  mother  and 
Marian,  for  both  of  whom  he  evidently  cherished  a 
deep  and  tender  affection. 

Nell  remarked  that  she  had  seen  them  at  church  once 
or  twice,  had  thought  Mrs.  Clendenin  very  sweet  and 
noble  looking,  and  Marian  the  loveliest  of  little  girls. 

"  You  read  them  both  aright,"  was  Kenneth  answer, 
with  a  look  and  smile  that  made  him,  Nell  thought,  the 
handsomest  man  she  had  ever  seen. 

"  If  he  were  not  quite  so  old,"  she  said  to  herself, 
"  perhaps,  I  don't  know,  but  perhaps  I  might  fall  in 
love  with  him.  It  would  be  very  foolish  though,  for 
of  course  he  could  never  care  for  such  a  silly  young 
thing  as  I  am." 

She  had  observed  that  he  seemed  a  skilful  physi- 
cian and  surgeon,  and  had  discovered  that  he  could 
tell  her  a  vast  deal  about  trees  and  plants  and  the  birds 
and  wild  animals  of  the  woods  through  which  they 
passed. 

They  had  never  met  in  Philadelphia  though  living 
there  at  the  same  time,  but  it  was  pleasant  to  talk  with 
him  about  the  city  and  its  various  attractions. 

So  they  had  not  been  at  a  loss  for  subjects  of  conver- 
sation, nor  were  they  to-day. 

Silence  fell  between  them  for  a  few  moments  after 
Kenneth's  last  remark,  then  Nell  said,  with  a  saucy 
smile,  "  So  you,  I  suppose,  are  never  sad,  Dr.  Clendenin." 

"  Alas,  Miss  Lamar,"  he  answered  with  a  far  away  look 
in  his  eyes,  an  expression  of  keen  anguish  sweeping 
across  his  features,  yet  passing  away  so  quickly  that  she 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.          27 

could  hardly  feel  sure  it  had  been  there,  "  my  theory  and 
practice  do  not  always  agree." 

"  Well,"  said  she,  "  I  don't  believe  there  is  anybody 
in  the  world  who  is  not  sad  at  times.  Yet  we  have  a 
great  deal  to  make  us  glad,  and  just  now  I  feel  as  blithe 
as  a  bird.  We  are  coming  to  a  river." 

"  Yes,  the  Scioto." 

"  Oh,  then  we  must  be  near  Chillicothe,  are  we 
not  ? " 

"  Yes,  here  is  the  ferry,  and  yonder,  on  the  farther 
side,  lies  the  town." 

"  That  !  I  see  only  a  few  log  cabins  scattered  here 
and  there  in  a  dense  forest." 

"  True,  miss,  that  is  just  what  it  is,"  said  the  ferry- 
man,  pushing  off,  for  they  were  already  on  board  his 
flat  boat  ;  "  but  you'll  find  more  houses  than  you'd 
think,  and  the  streets  marked  out  quite  straight  and 
wide." 

"  And  can  you  tell  me  in  which  Major  Lamar  lives  ?  " 
Nell  asked  eagerly. 

"  Certainly,  miss,  there  are  not  so  many  of  us  that  we 
don't  all  know  each  other's  faces,  and  houses  too.  The 
major  lives  on  Walnut  Street,  but  a  step  from  where  I 
shall  land  you.  And  yonder  he  comes,"  he  added  as 
the  boat  touched  the  bank  and  Romeo  and  Fairy  bounded 
ashore. 

Another  moment  and  the  girl  was  in  her  brother's 
arms,  weeping  for  very  joy,  as  if  her  heart  would  break, 
he  soothing  her  with  caresses  and  tender,  loving  words. 

"  There,  there,  Nell,  darling,  my  sweet  little  sister, 
we're  together  at  last,  and  don't  mean  to  be  parted  ever 
again.  Come,  come,  don't  spoil  your  pretty  eyes  with 
crying." 


28          THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

She  brushed  away  her  tears  at  that,  raised  her  head, 
saying,  "  O  Percy,  I'm  so  glad,  so  happy  !  How  are 
Clare  and  the  children  ? " 

Then  without  waiting  for  an  answer,  "  Oh  how 
forgetful  I  am !  "  she  cried  turning  to  Kenneth,  who 
with  half  averted  face  and  dewy  eyes,  was  thinking  of 
Marian,  and  could  almost  feel  the  clinging  of  her  arms 
about  his  neck.  "  Percy,  this  is  Dr.  Clendenin,  who  has 
cared  for  me  like  a  brother,  through  all  this  long,  tire- 
some journey." 

The  two  grasped  each  other's  hands  warmly,  and  the 
major  insisted  on  carrying  Kenneth  off  with  him  to  share 
the  hospitality  of  his  house. 

It  was  a  pleasant  home  circle  into  which  he  was 
presently  introduced, — Mrs.  Lamar,  a  fair,  graceful, 
bright-faced  lady,  still  young,  and  three  or  four  rosy, 
bright-eyed  boys  and  girls. 

He  received  a  warm  welcome,  while  Nellie  was 
embraced,  kissed  and  rejoiced  over  to  her  heart's  con- 
tent, a  heart  that  went  out  in  strong  affection  to  her 
kindred  and  craved  a  full  return. 

The  evening  meal  was  already  prepared,  the  table  set 
in  the  living  room.  Its  snowy  linen,  delicate  china 
and  shining  silver  would  not  have  disgraced  a  much 
more  lordly  dwelling  ;  and  the  viands  which  presently 
came  in  smoking  from  the  kitchen,  fresh  fish,  game  and 
hot  corn-bread,  might  have  tempted  the  appetite  of  an 
epicure  ;  much  more  that  of  our  travellers,  who  had 
fared  but  indifferently  well  for  some  days  past. 

The  major's  house  was  but  a  log  cabin,  the  only  kind 
of  building  in  the  settlement  at  that  time,  simply  fur- 
nished, and  consisted  of  only  three  rooms  beside  kitchen 
and  garret ;  yet  a  great  deal  of  comfort  and  enjoyment 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.          29 

were  to  be  found  there,  and  Kenneth  was  not  ill-pleased 
to  be  tendered  the  freedom  of  the  house,  and  accepted 
the  offer  with  hearty  thanks. 

"  We  elect  you  our  family  physician,  sir,  if  you  will 
not  decline  the  office,"  said  the  major,  as  they  rose  from 
the  table  ;  "  and  as  such  you  will  of  course  consider 
yourself  perfectly  at  home  among  us." 

Kenneth  was  beginning  to  express  his  sense  of  his 
host's  kindness  when  he  was  interrupted  by  a  hasty 
summons  to  the  bedside  of  a  sick  woman  at  the  other 
end  of  the  village. 

"  Come,  Nell,  and  take  a  look  at  Chillicothe,"  the 
major  said,  leading  the  way  to  the  grass  plot  in 
front  of  the  house,  where  they  seated  themselves  upon  a 
log. 

There  were  many  such  lying  about  the  streets,  many 
trees  and  stumps  of  those  which  had  been  felled,  still 
standing ;  in  fact  nearly  the  whole  town  was  still  a 
wilderness  ;  yet  though  not  a  year  old,  it  already  con- 
tained, beside  private  dwellings,  two  taverns  and  several 
stores  and  shops  of  mechanics,  but  among  them  all 
there  were  but  four  shingled  houses,  and  on  one  the 
shingles  were  fastened  with  pegs.  The  streets  were 
very  wide  and  straight,  crossing  at  right  angles  ;  not  all 
cleared  yet,  but  marked  out  by  blazing  the  trees  of  the 
thick  wood  in  whose  midst  the  town  was  located. 

There  were  many  Indians  in  the  vicinity.  They  had  a 
town  not  far  away,  on  the  north  fork  of  Paint  Creek,  and 
here  in  Chillicothe  their  wigwams  were  interspersed 
among  the  dwellings  of  the  whites  as  Nellie  noticed 
with  some  uneasiness. 

^  But  her  brother  reassured  her.    "  There  is  no  danger," 
he  said,  "  they  are  perfectly  friendly." 


30          THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Ah,  but  they  are  a  treacherous  race,"  she  sighed 
with  a  dubious  shake  of  the  head. 

"  Quite  a  change  from  Philadelphia,  Nell,"  Clare 
remarked,  joining  them  with  her  knitting  in  her  hand. 

"  Yes,  but  it  is  many  weeks  since  I  left  there." 

"  Is  it  nice  in  Philadelphia,  Aunt  Nellie  ? "  asked 
Bess,  the  eldest  of  the  children,  hanging  affectionately 
about  the  young  girl.  "  Do  tell  us  what  it's  like,  and 
about  the  pretty  things  in  the  shop  windows." 

"  Another  time,  Bess,"  interposed  the  major.  "  Run 
away  to  your  play  now,  and  let  older  people  talk.  Nell, 
you  saw  Washington  more  than  once  ?  " 

"  Ah  yes !  many  times — and  he  asked  for  you,  Percy, 
in  the  kindest  way,  speaking  in  the  highest  terms  of 
your  services  to  the  country." 

"  It  is  like  him,"  the  major  exclaimed  with  emotion. 

"  And  this  young  doctor,  Nell,"  pursued  Clare,  with  a 
meaning  smile,  "  what  is  he  like  ? " 

"  Just  what  he  has  shown  himself  to-night,"  the  girl 
answered,  blushing  slightly,  as  she  had  a  trick  of  doing, 
the  rich  blood  showing  readily  through  the  clear, 
transparent  skin. 

"  A  handsome,  polished,  courteous  gentleman,  intelli- 
gent and  well  informed  above  the  generality,  that  is 
about  all  one  could  learn  in  so  short  an  interview,"  and 
Clare  laughed  low  and  musically.  "  But  you  have  had 
an  opportunity  to  study  his  character  pretty  thoroughly." 

"  A  thing  I  never  thought  of  doing,"  returned  Nell, 
with  some  annoyance  ;  "  but  I  can  tell  you  that  he  is 
very  patient  and  very  kind." 

"  Any  one  might  well  be  that  to  you,  Nell,"  remarked 
her  brother,  regarding  her  with  a  proud,  affectionate- 
smile. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         31 

"  But  it  was  not  only  to  me,  but  to  everybody,  and  to 
the  very  horses  and  dogs.  He  seems  to  be  always  think- 
ing of  others,  never  of  himself,  and  to  have  a  kind 
look  or  word  or  smile  for  the  humblest  and  meanest 
creature  that  crosses  his  path,  and,"  low  and  hesitatingly, 
"  I  believe  it's  because  he  is  a  real,  true  Christian." 

"  I  know  it,  one  can  read  it  in  his  face,"  said  the  major 
heartily,  "  and  I  am  rejoiced  ;  for  such  men  are  needed 
here." 

"  There  they  are  !  "  cried  Nell,  starting  up.  "  See  !  the 
wagons  are  just  crossing  the  ferry  !  " 

The  Nashes  and  Barbours  had  been  old  friends  and 
neighbors  of  the  Lamars  before  the  emigration  of  the 
latter  to  Ohio,  and  the  major  and  his  wife  now  hurried  to 
meet  and  welcome  them  ;  Nell  and  the  children  following. 

Kenneth,  having  bestowed  all  needed  attention  upon 
his  patient,  was  hurrying  toward  the  ferry  also,  as 
indeed  was  nearly  every  man  and  women  in  the  village, 
all  alike  rejoicing  in  every  new  accession  to  their  num- 
bers, and  eager  for  news  from  the  older  settlements. 

There  were  joyous  greetings,  hearty  handshakings,  and 
quite  a  crowd  gathered  around  Kenneth,  giving  him  wel- 
come, expressing  unfeigned  satisfaction  with  the  advent 
among  them  of  a  good  physician. 

"  Why,  hollo  !  I  recognize  an  old  friend  !  Kenneth 
Clenendin,  I  was  never  more  surprised  and  delighted  in 
my  life  !  "  cried  a  familiar  voice,  and  our  hero's  hand  was 
warmly  grasped  in  that  of  a  former  schoolmate,  a  young 
man  of  pleasing,  open  countenance,  and  bluff,  hearty 
manner. 

"  Is  it  you,  Godfrey  Dale  ?  "  Kenneth  exclaimed,  shak- 
ing the  hand  cordially,  his  face  lighting  up  with  pleasure. 
"  Why,  where  did  you  come  from  ?  " 


32         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST, 

"  From  Tiffen's  tavern  over  yonder,  the  sign  of  the 
General  Anthony  Wayne,"  returned  Dale,  laughing. 

"  You  are  here  as  a  settler  ?  " 

"Yes,  and  as  land  agent  and  lawyer.  It's  a  fine 
country,  Kenneth,  and  men  of  both  your  profession  and 
mine  are  needed  in  it.  Come,  let  me  show  you  my  quar- 
ters. You  must  share  them  for  the  present,  at  all 
events." 

And  linking  his  arm  in  that  of  his  friend,  he  led  the 
way,  nearly  all  the  men  of  the  crowd  following. 

The  General  Anthony  Wayne  was  no  spacious  modern 
hotel,  but  like  its  neighbors  a  log  building  with  windows 
of  greased  paper,  its  accommodations  of  the  plainest. 

A  cheerful  wood  fire  blazed  in  its  wide  chimney,  but 
the  evening  was  a  warm  one  for  the  time  of  year,  and  the 
company  preferred  the  outer  air. 

They  grouped  themselves  about  the  door,  sitting  on 
stumps  and  logs,  or  leaning  against  the  trees,  while  Ken- 
neth, the  centre  of  the  throng,  patiently  answered  ques- 
tions and  gave  all  the  information  in  his  power  regarding 
matters  of  public  interest  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

The  sun  went  down  behind  the  hill  overlooking  the 
valley  on  the  west,  the  stars  shone  from  a  clear  sky  over- 
head, and  lights  twinkled  here  and  there  among  the  trees. 

Nell,  standing  in  the  doorway  of  her  brother's  house, 
asked  what  they  were,  remarking  : 

"  They  are  many  more  in  number  than  the  cabins." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Clare,  "  do  you  not  know  that  the 
Indians  have  a  way  of  lighting  up  their  wigwams  with 
torches  made  of  the  splinters  of  birch  and  pine  ? " 

"  I  wish,"  murmured  the  girl,  with  a  slight  shudder, 
"that  they  could  be  kept  away— miles  away  from  the 
town." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

EARLY  hours  were  the  rule  among  the  settlers  in  those 
primitive  days,  and  by  nine  o'clock  all  was  darkness  and 
silence  in  the  dwelling  of  the  Lamars. 

A  bed  stood  in  one  corner  of  the  large  family  room,  a 
trundle  bed  beneath  it,  which  was  drawn  out  at  night ; 
and  here  slept  the  parents  and  younger  children. 

One  of  two  smaller  apartments  between  this  and  the 
kitchen  was  appropriated  to  Nell  ;  the  other  occupied  by 
the  older  children. 

The  young  girl  was  roused  from  her  sleep  in  the  middle 
of  the  night  by  something  falling  down  the  wall  close  to 
her  side. 

"  Percy  !  Percy  !  "  she  screamed  in  affright. 

"  What  is  it,  Nell  ?  "  answered  the  major,  springing  out 
of  bed. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know,  I  don't  know  !  It's  too  dark  to  see  ! 
But,  oh,  come  and  bring  a  light  quickly  !  " 

That  was  more  easily  said  than  done  ;  friction  matches 
were  as  yet  an  unknown  luxury  ;  the  choice  was  between 
flint  and  steel  and  the  fire  covered  upon  the  kitchen 
hearth. 

He  chose  the  latter,  but  it  was  a  work  of  time  to  hunt 
out  a  coal  from  the  ashes,  and  blow  it  into  life  till  it 
would  ignite  the  wick  of  a  candle. 


34         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

The  thing  was  accomplished  at  last,  however,  and  the 
light  revealed  a  viper  beneath  Nell's  bed. 

The  major  succeeded  in  killing  it,  and  soothing  his 
sister's  alarm  with  a  few  kindly  reassuring  words,  again 
retired  to  rest. 

It  was  some  time  before  Nell's  fears  were  forgotten  in 
sleep,  and  a  grumbling  voice  from  the  kitchen  woke  her 
early  in  the  morning. 

"  Dear  me,  who's  been  rakin'  ober  dis  fire  ?  It's  clar 
out,  every  spark  of  it  ;  an',  Tig,  you'll  have  to  run  over 
nex'  do'  for  a  bran'  to  start  it  wid." 

Silvy  the  cook  was  evidently  very  much  out  of  humor. 

"  Pshaw  !  you  didn't  cober  it  up  right,"  returned  the 
boy. 

"  You  git  along ! "  was  the  wrathful  answer.  "  I 
reckon  you  done  raked  it  ober  yourself  ;  and  I'll  tell  de 
major  ef  you  don'  quit  cuttin'  up  sech  shines.  Be  off 
after  dat  bran'  now,  fast  as  you  kin  go." 

Nell  turned  over  on  her  pillow  and  listened. 

"  Percy  must  have  forgotten  to  cover  up  the  coals 
again,"  she  said  to  herself.  "  What  a  narrow  escape  I 
had  !  What  with  Indians  and  vipers  in  the  town,  bears, 
wolves  and  panthers  in  the  woods,  I  seem  to  have  come 
into  a  dangerous  place." 

She  sighed  rather  drearily,  a  homesick  feeling 
creeping  over  her,  spite  of  her  love  for  Percy  and  the 
rest. 

But  that  presently  vanished  before  the  beauty  of  a 
balmy,  sunshiny  May  morning,  the  sight  of  the  well- 
spread  breakfast  table,  and  the  affectionate  greetings  of 
her  brother  and  the  children. 

"  I'm  going  shopping,  Nell,"  announced  Mrs.  Lamar 
two  hours  later,  when  the  house  had  been  set  to  rights, 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.          35 

and  Silvy  given  her  orders  for  the  day  ;  "  will  you  go 
with  me  ? " 

"  Shopping  !  "  echoed  the  young  girl  in  incredulous 
surprise. 

"  Yes  ;  do  you  think  Philadelphia  is  the  only  place 
were  one  may  shop  ?  " 

"  No  ;  but  here  in   the  woods  ? " 

"  Yes,  here  in  the  woods  we  can  shop  ;  we  have 
already  three  stores." 

So  they  donned  their  bonnets  and  sallied  forth. 

It  was  pleasant  walking  in  the  shade  of  the  great 
forest  trees,  traversing  at  the  same  time  woodland  paths 
and  village  streets,  the  twitter  of  birds  and  rustling 
of  leaves  in  the  breeze  mingling  with  the  busy  hum  of 
human  voices  and  the  sound  of  the  woodman's  axe  ;  for 
men  were  engaged  here  and  there  in  laying  the  founda- 
tions for  new  dwellings  or  clearing  spaces  preparatory 
to  doing  so. 

Not  many  rods  from  the  General  Anthony  Wayne 
they  came  upon  Dr.  Clendenin  and  his  friend  Godfrey 
Dale,  standing  together  in  earnest  conversation,  while 
some  workmen  stood  near  apparently  awaiting  their 
directions. 

The  gentlemen  lifted  their  hats,  Kenneth  with  the 
grave,  quiet  smile  Nell  had  learned  to  know  so  well, 
Godfrey  saying  "  A  pleasant  morning,  ladies." 

"  Are  you  going  to  build  ? "  asked  Mrs.  Lamar,  nod- 
ding in  return. 

"Yes;- a  double  office  with  a  hall  between,"  said 
Dale.  "  We  think  it  will  be  sociable." 

A  man  came  staggering  up  axe  in  hand.  I — I'm  after 
— a  job  ;  and  you — you  wa — want  these  trees  cut 
down  ? " 


36  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  We  do,  Davis,  but  you're  in  no  condition  to  wield 
an  axe  at  present,"  returned  Dale  ;  and  growling  out  an 
oath  the  fellow  staggered  away. 

"  It's  perfectly  dreadful  the  amount  of  drunkenness  we 
have  here  of  late  !  "  remarked  Mrs.  Lamar  looking  after 
him. 

"  Yes,  whiskey's  too  cheap,"  said  Dale  ;  "  men,  women 
and  children  are  getting  drunk." 

4<  How  is  that  ?  "  enquired  Kenneth,  "  there  is  no  dis- 
tillery in  the  vicinity  ?  " 

"  No  ;  but  since  keel  boats  have  begun  to  run  on  the 
Scioto  the  Monongahela  whiskey  manufacturers  have 
rushed  their  firewater  in  here  in  such  quantities  that  the 
cabins  are  crowded  with  it  and  it  has  fallen  in  price  to 
fifty  cents  a  gallon." 

"  They'll  be  making  work  for  you,  doctor,"  said 
Mrs.  Lamar,  "  and  I  hope  you'll  try  to  convince  the 
people  that  whiskey  taken  in  such  quantities  is  ruinous 
to  health." 

"  Ruinous  to  body  and  soul,"  he  said.  "  You  may  rest 
assured,  Mrs.  Lamar,  that  my  influence  will  be  decidedly 
against  its  use." 

"  We  will  take  a  stroll  round  the  town,  Nell,  before 
making  our  purchases,"  Clare  said,  moving  on.  "  What  a 
grave,  quiet  manner  Dr.  Clendenin  has,  for  so  young  a 
man  ! " 

It  was  a  new  phase  of  life  now  presenting  itself  to  the 
young  girl,  and  she  found  it  interesting.  Her  attention 
was  presently  attracted  by  a  squaw  walking  a  little  dis- 
tance ahead  of  them,  wearing  a  shawl  completely  covered 
with  silver  brooches. 

"  They  get  them  at  Detroit  in  exchange  for  furs, 
moccasins  and  baskets,"  explained  Clare.  "  You  know, 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         37 

I  suppose,  that  they  are  quite  skilled  in  ornamental  work 
with  beads  and  porcupine  quills." 

The  major  joined  them  and  they  extended  their 
walk  for  a  mile  or  more  through  the  woods,  climbing  the 
hill  that  forms  the  western  boundary  of  the  valley,  from 
which  they  had  a  birdseye  view  of  the  village  and  the 
surrounding  country,  a  beautiful  landscape,  in  all  its 
native  wildness,  diversified  with  hill  and  valley,  forest 
and  prairie,  traversed  by  streams  of  living  water. 

Returning,  they  called  upon  Mrs.  Nash,  whom  they 
found  in  excellent  spirits,  full  of  enthusiastic  delight  with 
her  new  home  and  her  restoration  to  the  companionship 
of  her  husband,  after  months  of  separation.  That 
seemed  to  make  amends  for  everything  :  accustomed 
comforts  could  be  done  without,  inconveniences  easily 
borne,  they  would  soon  be  remedied,  and  in  the  mean- 
time were  mere  subjects  for  mirth. 

"  She's  a  cheery  and  wise  little  woman,"  was  the 
major's  remark,  as  they  went  on  their  way  again. 

"Yes;  always  the  same,"  assented  his  wife;  "but 
we'll  hear  a  different  story  here,"  as  they  approached 
another  cabin.  "  This  is  where  the  Barbours  live,  Nell, 
and  I  know  Nancy  of  old." 

"  So  do  I,  and  we  part  company  here,"  said  the  major 
laughingly,  lifting  his  hat  to  his  wife  and  sister,  and 
hurrying  on  his  way,  while  they  drew  near  the  open 
door  of  the  dwelling. 

"  Walk  in,  ladies,"  said  Mr.  Barbour,  putting  his  little 
girl  off  his  knee,  and  trying  to  give  them  seats. 

"  How  do  you  do  ?  "  said  his  wife,  coming  forward.  "  I 
was  just  wondering  if  you  two  were  going  to  be  formal 
with  an  old  friend  like  me.  How  fortunate  you  are  in 
being  able  to  run  about  enjoying  yourselves,  while  here 


38         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

I've  been  hard  at  work  since  daylight  ;  no  time  to  rest 
after  my  long  journey,  but  I  must  go  to  work  washing 
up  our  dirty  clothes  the  first  thing." 

"No,  now,  Nancy,"  expostulated  her  husband,  "  you 
needn't  have  done  it.  I  told  you  there  were  camp-women 
about,  from  Wayne's  army,  that  would  be  glad  of  the 
job." 

"  And  I  wouldn't  have  one  of  them  near  me  if  I  never 
have  any  help,"  she  retorted;  "  but  I  never  get  any  thanks 
from  you,  work  as  hard  as  I  will." 

"  Father's  been  at  work  too,"  put  in  Flora,  leaning  up 
affectionately  against  him  ;  "  and  so  have  I,  and  we've 
got  most  everything  fixed  now." 

"Yes,  you  look  quite  settled  already,"  Mrs.  Lamar 
remarked,  glancing  round  the  room. 

"  It  needn't  take  long  for  that  when  you've  but  one 
room  and  next  to  nothing  to  put  in  it,"  whined  Mrs.  Bar- 
bour.  "  But  perhaps  it's  just  as  well  not  to  have  much,  or 
it  might  be  stolen  from  you  ;  for  I  dare  say  those  camp- 
women  and  soldiers  are  thievish  ;  and  I  don't  suppose 
there's  any  sort  of  government  here  yet,  to  protect 
property." 

"  I've  never  heard  of  anything  being  stolen  here,"  said 
Mrs.  Lamar  ;  "  though  to  be  sure  the  town  is  not  a  year 
old  yet." 

"  Well,  there  was  a  suspicious  looking  woman  prowling 
about  here  last  night ;  she  came  in  making  an  excuse 
that  she  wanted  to  light  her  pipe  at  the  fire,  and  stared 
round  as  if  she  was  taking  note  where  things  were,  in 
case  she  should  get  a  chance  to  help  herself." 

"  Pooh !  only  idle  curiosity,"  said  Mr.  Barbour. 
"You're  always  meeting  trouble  more  than  half  way, 
Nancy." 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         30 

"  We're  out  shopping,"  remarked  Nell,  willing  to  change 
the  subject  of  conversation. 

"  Shopping  ! "  echoed  Mrs.  Barbour  with  a  derisive 
laugh. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Lamar,  rising  ;  "  and  that  reminds 
me,  Nell,  that  we  should  be  attending  to  it  at  once." 

It  was  no  very  arduous  undertaking  ;  in  the  first 
store  they  entered  they  were  promptly  supplied  with  the 
darning  needle  and  skein  of  thread  they  were  in  search 
of.  Change  was  made  in  a  novel  way  ;  literally  made  by 
cutting  a  silver  dollar  into  halves,  quarters  and  eights. 

The  merchant,  an  unmarried  man,  was  extremely  polite 
and  courteous,  and  while  waiting  upon  the  ladies  cast 
many  a  furtive,  admiring  glance  at  the  slight,  graceful 
figure  and  fair  face  of  the  major's  young  sister. 

Kenneth  had  a  call  that  afternoon  to  a  case  of  delirium 
tremens,  which  took  him  past  the  dwelling  of  the  Bar- 
bours. 

He  knew  they  were  not  in,  having  seen  them  but  a  few 
moments  before  strolling  in  the  opposite  direction,  and 
was  therefore  surprised,  within  a  few  yards  of  the 
cabin,  to  see  a  man  issue  from  the  back  door,  with  a 
bundle  under  his  arm,  and  disappear  among  the  trees. 

The  doctor  paused  for  an  instant,  with  the  thought  of 
giving  pursuit,  but  the  call  for  his  services  was  urgent, 
and  he  hurried  on  again. 

Turning  a  corner  the  next  moment  he  came  suddenly 
upon  a  man  and  woman  conversing  together  in  low  tones, 
who  at  sight  of  him  shrank  guiltily  back  into  the  shadow 
of  the  trees  ;  but  not  before  his  quick  eye  had  caught  a 
sight  of  their  faces  in  the  gathering  gloom,  for  twilight 
had  already  set  in,  and  his  ear  a  few  words  of  their  talk. 

"  A  pretty  good  haul  considering." 


5*0  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Yes  ;  and  now  we'd  best  be  off." 

Suspicious  words  enough,  but  Kenneth  had  no  time 
to  think  of  them  then,  nor  for  hours  afterward — so  criti- 
cal was  the  condition  of  his  patient.  It  was  only  when 
on  returning  about  sunrise  the  next  morning,  they  were 
recalled  to  his  mind  by  the  sound  of  Mrs.  Barbour's 
voice  lifted  up  in  scolding  and  lamentation. 

"  Yes,  they're  gone,  every  one  of  them  ; — that  overcoat, 
just  as  good  as  new,  the  shirt  I  finished  only  the  day 
before  I  started  from  home,  and  that  elegant  bandanna 
handkerchief.  I  told  you  somebody  would  get  in  and 
rob  us  in  our  sleep,  if  you  didn't  fasten  the  door  well. 
Perhaps  you'll  believe  another  time  that  my  opinion's 
worth  something." 

"  There,  there,  Nancy,  don't  go  on  as  if  everything  we 
had  was  lost.  The  town  isn't  so  large  that  a  thief  can 
keep  himself  hid  very  long  in  it,"  Mr.  Barbour  was  reply- 
ing as  the  doctor  stepped  up  to  the  open  door. 

"  Good  morning,"  he  said,  "  I  accidentally  overheard 
Mrs.  Barbour's  lament,  in  passing,  and  I  think  I  can 
throw  some  light  on  this  matter,"  then  went  on  to  tell  of 
what  he  had  seen  and  heard  the  previous  evening. 

"  So  you  see,  Nancy,  we  weren't  robbed  in  our  sleep 
after  all,"  was  Mr.  Barbour's  comment,  addressed  to  his 
wife. 

"  No  thanks  to  you,  anyhow,"  she  retorted  ;  "  and  it's 
your  fault  all  the  same  ;  because  I  wouldn't  have  gone 
out  and  left  the  house  alone  if  I'd  had  my  way." 

Mr.  Barbour  subsided.  Why  could  he  not  learn  how 
utterly  useless  it  was  to  attempt  to  justify  himself  under 
the  accusations  of  his  wife  ? 

"  And  there  you  sit  never  moving  hand  or  foot  to  find 
the  thief  and  get  your  own  out  of  his  clutches  !  "  she 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  4* 

whined,  moving  about  with  disconsolate  and  martyrlike 
air  at  her  work  of  preparing  the  morning  meal. 

"  Well,  well,  I'll  go  and  see  what  can  be  done,"  he 
said,  rising  and  putting  on  his  hat.  "  Doctor,  would 
you  recognize  the  thief  ?  " 

"  I  am  quite  sure  I  should  know  again  the  suspicious 
looking  persons  I  have  been  telling  you  of,"  Kenneth 
answered  as  they  stepped  out  together. 

"  Now  don't  be  gone  all  day,  Mr.  Barbour  ;  breakfast 
will  be  on  the  table  in  half  an  hour,"  his  wife  called  after 
him. 

"  Very  well,"  he  said  looking  back,  "  am  I  to  let  the 
thief  escape  rather  than  keep  you  waiting  for  an 
hour." 

"  Of  course  you'll  do  one  or  the  other — probably  both," 
she  fretted,  as  he  walked  on  without  waiting  for  an 
answer,  "  though  it  needn't  take  half  that  time  to  scour 
this  wretched  little  town  from  end  to  end." 

It  did  not  ;  scarcely  ten  minutes  had  elapsed  before  it 
was  known  by  every  inhabitant  that  a  theft  had  been 
committed,  and  that  a  man  named  Brannon  and  his  wife, 
people  of  low  character,  whose  absence  would  be  gain  to 
the  place,  had  absconded  during  the  night.  They  were 
not  desirable  citizens,  but  the  stolen  property  must  be 
recovered,  and  the  larceny  punished. 

A  hot  pursuit  was  immediately  begun,  and  before 
noon  the  culprits  were  taken  and  brought  back  in 
triumph. 

But  as  yet  the  town  had  no  constituted  authorities. 
What  was  to  be  done  ? 

The  citizens  gathered  together  on  the  river  bank,  chose 
one  of  their  number,  a  Mr.  Samuel  Smith,  as  judge,  and 
proceeded  to  try  Brannon  in  due  form  -,  a  jury  was  em- 


4*  THE   THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

panelled,  the  judge  appointed  Godfrey  Dale  as  attor- 
ney for  the  prosecution,  and  another  young  lawyer, 
Maurice  Gerard  by  name,  for  the  defence. 

Witnesses  were  called  and  examined.  The  goods  had 
been  found  in  possession  of  the  accused,  but  he  stoutly 
affirmed  that  they  were  his  own. 

Barbour,  however,  was  able  to  prove  property,  and  Dr. 
Clendenin's  evidence  was  strong  against  the  prisoner, 
whom  he  identified  without  hesitation  as  the  man  he  had 
seen  carrying  away  a  bundle  from  Barbour's  cabin  the 
previous  evening. 

There  was  other  testimony,  but  Kenneth's  was  the 
most  conclusive. 

The  judge  summed  up  the  evidence,  the  jury  re- 
tired to  a  short  distance,  and  in  a  few  moments  returned 
with  the  verdict  of  guilty,  and  that  the  culprit  be  sen- 
tenced according  to  the  discretion  of  the  judge. 

The  latter  presently  announced  his  decision  : — ten 
lashes  upon  the  naked  back  of  the  prisoner,  or  that  he 
should  sit  upon  a  bare  pack-saddle  on  his  pony,  while 
his  wife  taking  it  by  the  bridle  should  lead  it  through 
every  street  of  the  village,  pausing  before  the  door  of 
each  house  with  the  announcement,  "  This  is  Brannon 
who  stole  the  great-coat,  handkerchief,  and  shirt." 

Brannon  chose  the  latter  horn  of  the  dilemma,  and  a 
responsible  person  was  appointed  by  the  judge  to  see  the 
sentence  immediately  and  faithfully  executed. 

The  crowd  waited  to  see  the  man  mounted  upon  the 
pony,  then  scattered  to  their  homes  or  other  posi- 
tions favorable  for  watching  his  progress  through  the 
town. 

He  submitted  to  his  punishment  in  dogged  silence  : 
glancing  about  him  with  an  air  of  sullen  defiance  as  he 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.          43 

took  his  seat.  Then  his  eye  caught  that  of  Kenneth 
fixed  upon  him  in  grave  pity,  and  the  look  was  returned 
with  one  of  bitter  hatred  and  revenge. 

"  Curse  you  !  "  he  muttered  under  his  breath,  "  the 
day  will  come  when  you'll  repent  of  this." 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  Brannons  fled  immediately  upon  being  released, 
after  the  carrying  out  of  the  sentence.  No  one  mourned 
their  departure  :  but  Nell  Lamar,  having  heard  from 
Dale  of  the  look  the  culprit  had  cast  upon  Kenneth, 
rejoiced  not  a  little  in  secret  that  they  were  gone. 

"  Dr.  Clendenin  had  been  so  kind  to  her  on  her  jour- 
ney," she  explained  to  herself,  "  that  in  common  grati- 
tude she  must  care  for  his  safety." 

Naturally,  being  both  friend  and  physician  to  the 
major's  family,  Kenneth  was  a  frequent  visitor  at  their 
house.  Though  noticeably  quiet  and  undemonstrative 
in  manner,  he  soon  became  a  great  favorite  with  them  all, 
from  the  parents  down  to  the  youngest  child  ;  and  Nell 
saw  no  reason  to  appropriate  his  visits  to  herself,  even 
when  unprofessional. 

Nor  had  she  any  desire  to  do  so  ;  and  in  fact  his  con- 
versation was  seldom  directed  to  her.  Yet  it  did  not 
escape  Clare's  quick  observation  that  the  calm  gray  eye 
saw  every  movement  of  her  young  sister,  and  that  no 
tone  of  the  sweet  girlish  voice  ever  fell  unheeded  upon 
his  ear. 

She  was  well  pleased,  Nell  could  not  help  loving 
such  a  man,  or  being  happy  with  him,  so  would  soon  be 
provided  for,  and  the  major  relieved  of  her  support. 

That  last  would  never  have  been  the  major's  thought, 


THE  THORN'  IN  THE  NEST.          45 

his  darling  little  sister  was  esteemed  no  burden  by  him. 
He  was  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  the  place,  held  a 
highly  responsible  office  under  the  general  government, 
and  had  received  large  grants  of  land  in  compensation 
for  his  services  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Nell  was  fond  of  her  brother,  yet  stood  somewhat  in 
awe  of  him.  He  was  a  reserved,  rather  taciturn  man, 
and  military  life  had  increased  a  natural  tendency  to 
sternness  of  manner  toward  those  under  his  authority 
which  belied  his  real  kindness  of  heart.  He  had  never  a 
harsh  word  or  look  for  Nell,  yet  she  dared  not  lavish 
upon  him  the  demonstrations  of  affection  her  loving 
young  heart  longed  to  bestow  ;  dared  not  offer  him  a 
caress;  and  he  rarely  gave  them  unasked  to  her  or  to  any 
one  else  except  the  youngest  of  his  children. 

Clare  was  more  demonstrative  and  really  meant  to  be 
very  kind,  but  was  as  dictatorial  and  domineering  in  her 
way  as  the  major  in  his,  and  before  many  days  had  passed 
she  began  to  treat  the  young  girl  as  a  child,  checking, 
criticising,  reproving,  and  directing  with  the  most  exas- 
perating persistency,  and  as  having  an  undoubted  right. 

This  was  very  trying  to  Nell's  sense  of  womanly 
dignity  ;  and  though  by  no  means  an  ill-tempered  little 
body,  she  sometimes  found  it  difficult  to  possess  her  soul 
in  patience. 

"  Where  now  ? "  asked  Clare  one  morning,  addressing 
her. 

"  To  the  woods  with  the  children,  after  wild  flowers 
and  mosses,"  returned  the  young  girl  gaily. 

She  was  standing  in  the  doorway  swinging  a  broad- 
brimmed  hat  by  its  strings,  her  beautiful  uncovered  hair 
glittering  like  burnished  gold  in  the  sunbeams  sifting 
down  upon  it  through  the  leaves  of  the  overshadowing 


46         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

trees,  as  they  stirred  restlessly  to  and  fro  in  the  pleasant 
summer  breeze. 

She  was  in  a  happy  mood,  light-hearted  and  free  from 
care  as  the  birds  warbling  overhead,  and  had  been 
humming  snatches  of  song  till  interrupted  by  Clare's 
question. 

"  You  have  been  here  nearly  a  week  now,"  pursued 
that  lady  in  precisely  the  tone  she  would  have  used  to 
one  of  her  children,  "  don't  you  think  it  is  time  to  begin 
to  make  yourself  useful  ?  Life  was  never  meant  for  a 
perpetual  holiday." 

Nell's  cheek  crimsoned. 

"  What  would  you  have  me  do  ?  offer  my  services  as 
assistant  to  Silvy  the  cook,  Maria  the  nurse-maid,  or 
Tig  the  stable  boy  ? "  she  asked  in  a  slightly  sarcastic 
tone. 

"  Silvy  is  an  excellent  cook,  and  it  might  not  be  at  all 
amiss  for  you  to  take  some  lessons  of  her,"  said  Clare. 
"  But  there  are  other  employments.  The  children  need 
instruction,  and  you  ought  to  be  able  to  give  it.  Then 
there  are  spinning  and  sewing." 

"  I  don't  know  anything  about  spinning." 

"  I'll  teach  you,  in  return  for  the  lessons  you  give  the 
children  in  spelling,  reading  and  writing." 

"  Very  well,  we'll  talk  of  it  when  I  come  back  from  my 
walk,"  Nell  answered,  tying  on  her  hat. 

She  was  willing  enough  to  make  herself  useful,  but 
Clare's  manner  was  irritating. 

Her  annoyance  was,  however,  soon  forgotten  in  the 
prattle  of  the  children,  and  the  beauty  of  the  woods. 

They  wandered  about  till  weary,  then  sat  down  on  a 
log  to  rest. 

"  Now  if  I  only  had  a  book,"  remarked  Nell. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.          47 

"  Why  didn't  you  bring  one  ? "  asked  Bess. 

"  I  don't  mean  a  Sunday  book,  such  as  those  on  the 
shelves  in  the  sitting-room,"  was  the  half  scornful  reply. 

"  Aunt  Nell,  there  are  some  other  kinds  of  books  up 
garret." 

"  What  kinds  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know  ;  stories,  I  believe,  but  not  fit  for 
me  to  read,  mother  says." 

Nell  rose  eagerly.  "  Come,  let  us  go  back,"  she  said, 
"  I  must  see  those  books.  But  how  came  they  there  ? " 

Bess  explained  as  they  wended  their  homeward  way, 
she  walking  soberly  by  her  aunt's  side,  the  boys  racing 
on  before,  climbing  and  jumping  over  stumps  and  logs. 

The  major  had  formerly  been  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, and  in  the  garret  were  stowed  away  boxes  of  goods 
— a  medley  of  many  odds  and  ends  which  had  fallen  to 
his  share  in  the  division  of  unsold  stock  made  by  himself 
and  partner  in  the  winding  up  of  the  joint  concern. 

The  garret  was  the  favorite  resort  of  the  children  when 
kept  within  doors  by  stormy  weather,  and  Bess  had  made 
herself  well  acquainted  with  the  contents  of  the  boxes, 
turning  them  over  and  over  in  search  of  "  pretty  things" 
with  which  to  bedeck  her  dolls  and  herself. 

The  books  proved  to  be  novels — "  Claremont  "  com- 
plete in  several  volumes  and  an  odd  volume  of  "  Pere- 
grine Pickle." 

Nell  seized  upon  them  with  delight  and  carried  them 
off  to  her  bed-room.  Books  were  rare  luxuries  in  those 
days,  there  were  no  newspapers  or  magazines  published 
in  that  region  of  country,  and  as  yet  there  was  no  regular 
mail. 

Nell  read  and  re-read  "  Claremont,"  devoting  to  its 
perusal  every  spare  moment  when  she  could  steal  away 


48         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

unobserved  to  the  solitude  of  her  room,  and  carrying  a 
volume  with  her  in  her  rambles  with  the  children. 

Then  she  took  up  "  Peregrine  Pickle,"  but  with  sore 
disappointment  that  the  first  volume  was  missing ;  so 
much  so  that  she  at  length  plucked  up  courage  to  ask  her 
brother  what  had  become  of  it  ;  though  quite  fearful 
that  he  would  disapprove  of  her  reading  it. 

"  Well,"  he  said  with  a  smile,  "  I  suppose  my  former 
partner  has  it,  and  somebody  is  probably  as  anxious  for 
this  as  you  are  for  it.  I'm  sorry,  for  your  sake,  that  we 
were  so  careless  in  dividing  our  stock." 

"  It  is  just  as  well,"  said  Clare  ;  "  time  can  be  more 
profitably  employed  than  in  the  reading  of  such  trash." 

"  I  consider  it  a  very  innocent  amusement,"  replied  the 
major,  shortly  ;  not  over-pleased  with  the  remark,  seeing 
that  it  called  a  flush  of  wounded  feeling  to  Nellie's  fair 
cheek.  "  I  remember  that  I  enjoyed  reading  it  myself.  If 
it  were  in  my  power  to  get  it  for  you,  Nell,  you  should 
have  it." 

She  thanked  him  with  a  look,  then  rose  and  left  the 
room. 

"  This  is  but  a  dull  place  for  her  after  Philadelphia," 
he  said  to  his  wife.  "  I  have  no  doubt  she  misses  the 
weekly  newspaper  and  many  another  source  of  entertain- 
ment which  she  enjoyed  there,  but  must  do  without  here." 

"  Probably  ;  but  she  is  no  worse  off  in  regard  to  those 
things  than  any  of  the  rest  of  us,"  said  Clare  coolly. 

"  You  forget,  my  dear,  that  you  have  me,"  returned 
the  major  with  playful  pleasantry.  "  And  the  children," 
he  added,  taking  his  youngest  on  his  knee.  "  We're 
worth  a  good  deal,  aren't  we,  Ralph  ?  " 

The  major  so  sincerely  regretted  his  sister's  disappoint- 
ment that  it  was  frequently  in  his  thoughts  during  the 


THE  THORN  IN'  THE  NEST.  49 

next  week,  and  he  was  seriously  considering  the  feasibility 
of  sending  to  Philadelphia  or  New  York  for  a  box  of 
•books  such  as  she  would  find  both  entertaining  and 
instructive,  when  the  want  was  supplied  in  an  unlocked 
for  manner. 

Dr.  Clendenin  and  his  friend  Dale  had  pushed  for- 
ward their  office  building  as  fast  as  possible  and  taken 
possession. 

Making  a  call  upon  Kenneth  one  afternoon,  the  major 
found  him  unpacking  books  and  arranging  them  upon 
shelves  he  had  had  put  up  along  the  wall. 

"  Books  !  "  cried  the  major.  "  You  have  quite  a 
library.  All  medical  works  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no,"  said  Kenneth.  "  Will  you  step  up  and  look 
at  them  ?  My  stock  is  not  large,  but  valuable,  to  me  at 
least,  and  I  hope  to  add  to  it  from  time  to  time." 

"  Valuable  !  yes,  indeed,  to  a  lover  of  literature," 
remarked  the  major  running  his  eye  over  the  titles. 
"  Shakespeare,  Milton,  Pope,  Dryden,  Gray,  Goldsmith, 
Gibbon,  Plutarch,  Rollins,  etc.,  etc.  Poetry,  history, 
fiction  are  well  represented,  and  I  see  you  have  a  goodly 
supply  of  religious  works  of  the  best  class,  also.  Medical 
books,  too,  in  plenty,  but  of  their  quality  I  am  no  judge." 

"  Yes,  I  shall  not  want  for  good  companionship  here 
in  my  somewhat  rough  bachelor  quarters,"  Kenneth 
answered,  surveying  his  treasures  with  an  air  of  quiet 
content.  "  But  I  do  not  mean  to  be  selfish,  major,  make 
yourself  at  home  among  my  friends." 

"  Thank  you,"  returned  the  major  heartily,  wishing 
that  Nell  had  been  included  in  the  invitation  ;  when 
Kenneth,  as  if  in  answer  to  his  thoughts,  said,  "  The 
ladies  of  your  family,  too,  might  find  something  here  to 
enjoy." 


50          THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Then  the  major  told  of  Nell's  disappointment,  and  half 
an  hour  later  was  on  his  way  home,  carrying  her  the 
"  Vicar  of  Wakefield,"  and  the  assurance  that  Dr.  Clen- 
denin's  entire  library  was  at  her  service. 

Nell's  face  sparkled  with  delight  at  the  news,  and  the 
sight  of  the  book. 

"  How  kind  in  him  !"  she  said.  "  I'll  handle  them  with 
the  greatest  care." 

For  many  months  those  books  and  the  talks  with  their 
owner  which  naturally  grew  out  of  their  perusal,  were  her 
greatest  enjoyment ;  for  as  yet  she  had  very  few  com- 
panions near  her  own  age. 

But  as  the  town  grew  there  was  a  corresponding  in- 
crease in  its  young  society  and  in  the  sources  of  amuse- 
ment and  entertainment  open  to  her.  She  had  many 
admirers  and  Kenneth  stepped  quietly  aside,  as  one  who 
had  no  desire  to  win  the  prize. 

Mrs.  Lamar  did  not  understand  it,  no  more  did  Dale, 
or  Nell  herself,  though  Kenneth  had  never  comported 
himself  as  a  lover  and  she  had  not  consciously  thought 
of  him. 

There  were  other  things  about  Kenneth  that  puzzled 
Dale.  He  seemed  to  have  some  secret  grief  ;  there  were 
times  when  his  look  and  manner  betokened  inexpressible 
sadness,  though  he  always  shook  it  off  and  assumed  an 
air  of  cheerfulness  on  being  spoken  to. 

Dale's  curiosity  was  piqued,  and  indeed  he  would  have 
rejoiced  to  give  all  the  sympathy  and  comfort  that  might 
be  in  his  power  ;  but  there  was  a  quiet,  reserved  dignity 
about  Kenneth  that  forbade  any  intrusion  into  his  private 
affairs. 

He  rarely  spoke  of  himself  or  his  own  concerns  ;  he 
sometimes  mentioned  his  mother  or  sister,  always  with 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         51 

the  greatest  respect  and  affection,  but  his  talk  when 
they  were  alone  together  was  of  literature,  of  the  interests 
of  the  community  in  which  they  lived,  the  state,  the 
country,  the  acts  of  the  government,  and  what  was  going 
on  in  foreign  lands,  or  of  Dale's  own  plans  and  prospects, 
in  which  Kenneth  took  the  most  generous,  unselfish 
interest. 

As  a  physician  he  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  relieve, 
patient  and  sympathizing,  in  manner  gentle  even  to  ten- 
derness with  the  aged  and  with  the  little  ones. 

He  soon  came  to  have  great  influence  in  the  commu- 
nity and  it  was  always  cast  on  the  side  of  right.  A  man 
of  pure  morals  and  an  earnest  Christian,  he  was  as  ready 
and  competent  to  pray  with  the  sick  and  dying,  and  to 
point  out  to  the  troubled  soul  the  paths  of  peace,  as  any 
minister  could  be. 

These  offices  were  performed  as  simply  and  easily  as 
those  others  in  which  the  healing  of  the  body  only  was 
concerned. 

Another  thing  Dale  noticed,  with  the  thought  that  it 
was  decidedly  odd,  that  Kenneth  took  evident  pains  to 
make  acquaintance  with  all  the  Indians  in  the  vicinity, 
and  of  every  white  man  who  had  visited  their  tribes, 
whether  near  or  far  off,  or  had  had  much  to  do  with 
them  in  any  way  :  that  he  asked  many  questions,  wording 
each  with  care  to  avoid  arousing  suspicion  in  regard  to 
his  motives,  and  that  invariably  his  main  object  seemed 
to  be  to  gain  information  in  regard  to  whites  living 
among  the  Indians. 

Once  Dale  ventured  to  ask  if  he  had  ever  had  a  friend  or 
relative  carried  off  by  them  ;  but  the  answer  was  a  quiet 
"  No,"  that  while  it  left  his  curiosity  entirely  unsatisfied, 
gave  no  encouragement  to  further  questioning. 


5 2  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

They  were  in  Dale's  office  ;  Kenneth  had  come  across 
the  connecting  hall  with  some  enquiry  in  regard  to  a 
piece  of  land  for  the  disposal  of  which  Dale  was  the 
agent,  and  a  casual  mention  of  the  Indians  had  made  a 
favorable  opening  for  his  query. 

A  moment's  silence  followed  Kenneth's  reply,  then  Zeb 
came  rushing  in. 

"  Somefin  goin'  on  down  to  de  rivah,  sahs,  Squire 
Smith  goin'  for  to  hoi'  court,  dey  say.  Sent  de  constable 
to  cotch  the  tief  an'  fotch  him  along  double  quick." 

Dale  sprang  from  his  chair  and  caught  up  his  hat. 

"  My  services  may  be  needed,"  he  said,  laughing, 
"though  the  squire  doesn't  make  much  account  of  law. 
Come  on,  doc  ;  if  the  sentence  should  be  flogging  you 
may  be  needed  too." 

A  man  named  Adam  McMurdy,  who  cultivated  some 
land  on  the  station  prairie  below  the  town,  had  come  in 
to  Squire  Smith  with  a  complaint  that  during  his  absence 
the  previous  night,  some  one  had  stolen  his  horse  collar  ; 
that  he  had  examined  the  collars  on  the  horses  of  the 
ploughmen  at  work  this  morning,  recognized  one  of  them 
as  his,  and  claimed  it  of  the  horse's  owner,  Bill  Slack. 

That  Slack  had  not  only  refused  to  restore  it,  insisting 
that  it  was  his  own,  but  used  very  abusive  language 
toward  him  (McMurdy),  and  threatened  to  whip  him  for 
accusing  him  of  the  theft. 

On  hearing  the  story  the  squire  immediately  despatched 
his  constable  in  search  of  Slack,  with  strict  orders  to 
bring  him  and  the  collar  at  once  into  court. 

The  court  had  already  convened  under  the  trees  by  the 
river  side,  and  the  constable  was  hurrying  toward  it  with 
the  collar  in  one  hand,  the  accused  tightly  grasped  in  the 
other,  as  Dr.  Clendenin  and  Dale  stepped  into  the  street. 


THE  THORN  7,V  THE  NEST.  53 

They  followed  quickly  on  the  heels  of  the  constable. 
Life  had  so  little  of  the  spice  of  variety  then  and  there 
that  even  so  trivial  an  affair  created  some  stir  and  excite- 
ment. 

Also  the  squire  had  an  amusing  method  of  dealing  out 
justice  that  made  a  trial  conducted  by  him  somewhat 
entertaining  to  those  who  were  spectators. 

Nearly  all  the  men  of  the  town  were  there. 

The  prisoner  being  arraigned  at  the  bar  of  justice,  the 
squire  turned  to  McMurdy  and  asked,  "  How  can  you 
prove  this  collar  to  be  yours  ? " 

"  If  the  collar  is  mine,"  he  replied,  "  Mr.  Spear,  who  is 
present,  can  testify." 

Mr.  Spear,  the  Presbyterian  minister,  stepped  forward. 

"  If  the  collar  is  McMurdy's,"  he  said,  "  I  wrote  his 
name  on  it,  on  the  inner  side  of  the  ear." 

"  Hand  it  to- me,"  said  the  squire.  Taking  it  from  the 
constable  and  turning  up  the  ear,  "  Yes,  here's  the 
name.  No  better  proof  could  be  given,  and  my  sentence 

"  If  the  court  will  excuse  the  interruption,"  began 
Dale,  a  mischievous  twinkle  in  his  eye  ;  "  let  me  say 
that  according  to  law,  as " 

"  No,  the  court  won't  be  interrupted,"  returned  the 
squire,  frowning  him  down.  "  All  laws  were  intended 
for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  justice.  I  know  what's  right 
and  what's  wrong  as  well  as  the  man  that  made  the  laws  ; 
therefore  stand  in  no  need  of  laws  to  govern  my  actions. 

"  My  sentence  is  that  the  prisoner  be  tied  up  forthwith 
to  your  buckeye  and  receive  five  lashes  well  laid  on." 

It  was  done  and  the  crowd  dispersed.  The  trial  had 
occupied  scarcely  five  minutes  and  every  one  was  satis- 
fied except  the  culprit. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

• 

"  THERE'S  even-handed  justice  for  ye,  stranger  ? " 

A  stalwart  backwoodsman  in  hunting  garb  of  dressed 
skins  was  the  speaker,  and  the  words  were  addressed  to 
Kenneth,  near  to  whom  he  had  stood  during  the  brief 
trial  of  Bill  Slack. 

Dale  had  walked  away  in  company  with  a  brother  law- 
yer, and  Kenneth  was  turning  from  the  unpleasant  scene 
with  a  thought  of  pity  for  the  weakness  and  wickedness 
of  the  unhappy  criminal. 

"  Yes,"  he  answered,  "  Squire  Smith  is  a  man  of  dis- 
criminating mind  and  judgment,  very  impartial  in  his 
decisions,  and  prompt  in  seeing  them  carried  out.  But 
what  a  happy  world  this  might  be  if  all  were  honest  and 
upright ! " 

"  That's  true  ;  but  we've  got  to  take  it  as  it  is. 

"  Got  quite  a  town  here,"  pursued  the  hunter,  moving 
along  by  Kenneth's  side  as  he  walked  up  the  street. 
"  Last  time  I  was  round  here  in  these  parts,  there  wasn't 
so  much  as  an  Injun  wigwam  to  be  seen  ;  nothin'  but  the 
thickest  kind  o'  thick  woods." 

"  I  thought  your  face  was  quite  new  to  me,"  said  Ken- 
neth. "  May  I  ask  where  you  are  from  ?  " 

"  You  kin  ask,  sir,  and  I  haven't  the  least  objection  in 
life  to  tellin'.  I've  been  huntin'  and  trappin'all  through 


THE  THORX  f.V  THE  NEST.  55 

this  Northwestern  Territory,  along  the  Ohio  and  the 
Little  Miami,  and  away  up  north  by  the  great  lakes  ;  and 
even  as  far  as  the  head  waters  of  the  Mississippi.  And  I 
come  back  with  a  lot  of  furs  and  skins.  Sold  'em  mostly 
in  Detroit." 

"  Ah  !  "  exclaimed  Kenneth,  with  interest.  "  You 
must  have  had  an  adventurous  life,  and  fallen  in  with 
many  tribes  of  Indians." 

"  Humph  !  yes,  young  man  ;  saw  a  good  deal  more  of 
the  ugly,  treacherous  varmints  than  I  cared  to.  I  hain't 
no  love  for  'em,  and  no  more  have  they  for  me." 

"  You  have  had  some  encounters  with  them  ? " 

"  More'n  a  few,  stranger.  I've  taken  their  scalps,  and 
been  mighty  near  losin'  my  own  ;  have  been  in  their 
clutches  several  times,  run  the  gauntlet  twice,  and  would 
have  been  burnt  at  the  stake  if  I  hadn't  made  my  escape. 
However,  I  haven't  any  more  to  tell  than  any  other  man 
that's  been  huntin'  and  trappin'  for  ten  or  a  dozen  years." 

Kenneth  invited  him  into  his  office,  set  food  and  drink 
before  him,  and  by  dint  of  adroit  questioning  drew  from 
him  a  good  deal  of  information  in  regard  to  the  various 
tribes  among  whom  he  had  been. 

"  Have  you  ever  met  with  any  whites  living  with  them  ? " 
he  asked  at  length. 

"  Yes,  occasionally.  There's  Simon  Gerty  ;  I  saw  him, 
and  he's  a  worse  savage  than  the  red-skins." 

"  But  any  others  ?  Any  women  ?  " 

"  I  met  another  man  that  was  a  prisoner,  got  away 
afterwards  ;  and  saw  children  at  different  times,  girls 
and  boys,  both,  that  they'd  stole  away  from  their  folks 
and  adopted.  And  I  saw  a  white  woman  a  few  weeks 
ago,  that's  been  with  'em  for  years,  and  is  married  to  an 
Injun  ;  got  a  family  of  pappooses." 


56         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

In  reply  to  further  questions  he  went  on  to  describe 
the  situation  of  the  Indian  village  where  he  had  seen  this 
woman,  but  could  give  no  description  of  her,  except  that 
she  was  very  much  tanned,  dressed  like  the  squaws,  and 
had  scarcely  a  more  civilized  look  than  they. 

"  I  hope  she's  no  kin  o'  yours  ? "  he  remarked,  looking 
keenly  at  his  questioner. 

"  No  ;  I  never  had  friend  or  relative  taken  by  them," 
Kenneth  answered,  "  though  our  family  were  pioneers, 
and  several  of  them  lost  their  lives  by  the  Indians." 

"  Humph  !  then  I  reckon  you  hain't  no  love  for  'em 
either  ? " 

"  Not  so  much  as  I  ought  to  have,  I'm  afraid." 

"  How's  that  ?  Can't  say  as  I  see  any  call  to  love  'em 
at  all." 

"  They  are  human  creatures,  and  Christ  died  for  them 
as  well  as  for  the  white  man.  Doubtless  they  are  equally 
dear  to  Him,"  Kenneth  answered,  with  gentle  gravity, 
fixing  a  kindly  look  upon  his  rough  companion. 

"  Well,  now,  that  may  be,"  the  man  returned  thought- 
fully. "  Fact  is,  I've  never  paid  much  attention  to  those 
things.  Minister,  are  ye  ?  " 

"  No  ;  a  doctor." 

"  Find  much  to  do  about  here  ?  " 

"  Not  just  now,"  Kenneth  answered  aloud,  adding  to 
himself,  "  Happily  I  can  very  well  be  spared  for  a  few 
days." 

Upon  the  departure  of  the  backwoodsman  from  the 
office,  Zeb  was  summoned  and  directed  to  saddle  Romeo 
and  have  him  at  the  door  by  the  time  his  master  should 
return  from  a  round  of  visits  among  his  town  patients. 

"  I  am  going  off  on  a  hunt,  Zeb,  and  shall  want  my 
gun,  blanket  and  some  provisions  ;  get  me  some  parched 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.          57 

corn,  bread  and  a  little  salt,  and  pack  them  in  one  end  of 
my  saddle-bags,"  was  his  final  order. 

"  Yes,  sah.  You'll  take  me  'long,  I  s'pose  ? "  inter- 
rogatively. 

"  No,  Zeb,  I'm  going  alone  ;  I  must  leave  you  to  take 
care  of  the  office  and  see  who  calls.  I  shall  be  away  for 
two  or  three  days,  or  longer,  and  shall  want  to  know  when 
I  return  who  have  been  wanting  the  doctor,  that  I  may 
go  to  them  at  once." 

"  'Tain't  jes'  the  very  bestest  time  ob  yeah  for  a  hunt," 
muttered  the  boy,  watching  his  master  as  he  strode  rap- 
idly down  the  street.  "  Wondah  what  sort  ob  game 
Massa  Doctah's  gwine  arter." 

By  noon  of  that  day  Kenneth  had  put  several  miles  of 
hill  and  valley  between  him  and  Chillicothe. 

He  had  gone,  telling  no  one  whither,  or  on  what  errand 
he  was  bound,  and  those  who  saw  him  leaving  the  town 
took  it  for  granted  that  he  had  had  a  call  to  some  sick 
person  in  the  country. 

His  course  was  northwesterly,  and  for  days  he  pressed 
on  sturdily  in  that  direction,  taking  an  hour's  rest  at  noon, 
subsisting  on  the  provisions  in  his  saddle-bags,  and  such 
small  game  as  came  in  his  way,  at  night  kindling  a  fire 
to  keep  off  the  wild  beasts,  and  sleeping  on  the  ground, 
wrapped  in  his  blanket,  with  his  horse  picketed  near  by. 

His  way  lay  through  pathless  forests  and  over  track- 
less prairies  where  perhaps  the  foot  of  white  man  had 
never  trod  ;  the  solitude  was  utter  and  the  compass  his 
only  guide  ;  not  a  human  creature  did  he  meet  ;  but 
during  the  hours  of  darkness  his  ears  were  greeted  with 
the  cry  of  the  panther  and  the  howl  of  the  wolf,  now 
far  in  the  distance,  now  close  at  hand. 

But  brave  by  nature  and    strong  in  faith,    Kenneth 


58         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

committed  himself  tcr  the  care  of  Him  who  neither 
slumbers  nor  sleeps,  and  there  in  the  wilderness  rested 
as  securely  in  the  shadow  of  His  wing,  as  though  in  the 
midst  of  civilization  and  compassed  by  walls  and  bul- 
warks. 

But  in  regard  to  the  success  or  failure  of  the  object 
of  his  journey  he  was  not  equally  calm  and  trustful. 
How  is  it  that  our  faith  is  apt  to  be  so  weak  in  respect 
to  our  Father's  loving  control  of  those  things  which  affect 
our  happiness  in  this  life,  even  when  we  trust  to  Him 
unhesitatingly  the  far  greater  interests  of  eternity  ?  Ah 
how  slow  we  are  to  believe  that  word,  "  We  know  that 
all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God." 

Such  was  Kenneth's  experience  at  this  time,  earnestly 
striving,  yet  with  but  partial  success,  to  throw  off  the 
burden  of  care  and  anxiety  that  oppressed  him,  now 
urging  his  steed  forward  with  almost  feverish  haste, 
himself  half  panting  with  eagerness  and  excitement,  and 
anon  bringing  it  to  a  walk,  while  with  head  drooping  and 
heavy  sighs  bursting  from  his  bosom  he  seemed  half 
inclined  to  turn  and  retrace  his  steps. 

This  hesitation,  this  shirking  from  the  result  of  his 
quest,  grew  upon  him  as  he  advanced  ;  but  at  length, 
"  What  weakness  is  this  ? "  he  cried  aloud.  "  God  help- 
ing me,  I  will  throw  it  off  and  meet  this  crisis  with  Chris- 
tian courage.  Should  the  very  worst  come,  it  cannot 
peril  that  which  I  have  committed  to  His  hand.  Blessed 
be  His  holy  name  for  that  gracious  word,  '  I  give  unto 
them  eternal  life  :  and  they  shall  never  perish,  neither 
shall  any  pluck  them  out  of  my  hand.' ' 

With  the  last  words  his  voice  rang  out  triumphantly 
on  the  silent  air.  Romeo  pricked  up  his  ears  at  the 
sound  and  quickened  his  pace  to  a  rapid  canter. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         59 

"  Right,  my  brave  fellow  !  "  said  his  master,  patting 
his  neck  ;  "  on  now  with  spirit,  we  are  not  far  from  the  end 
of  this  long  jaunt." 

They  were  crossing  a  prairie,  a  sea  of  waving  grass 
bespangled  with  flowers  of  many  and  gorgeous  hues, 
beyond  which  lay  a  thick  wood. 

It  was  afternoon  of  the  third  day  and  the  sun  near  its 
setting,  as  they  plunged  into  the  wood.  Here  the  light 
had  already  grown  dim,  and  soon  darkness  compelled  a 
halt. 

Kenneth  dismounted,  secured  his  horse  in  the  usual 
way,  gathered  dry  branches  and  leaves,  and  with  the 
aid  of  flint  and  steel  had  presently  a  bright  fire  blazing. 

A  couple  of  birds  which  he  had  shot  during  the  day, 
hung  at  his  saddle  bow.  These  he  quickly  stripped  of 
their  feathers  and  prepared  for  cooking,  which  he  man- 
aged by  suspending  them  before  the  fire,  each  on  the  end 
of  a  pointed  stick  whose  other  end  was  thrust  well  into 
the  ground. 

A  bit  of  corn-bread  from  his  saddle-bags,  and  water 
from  a  running  stream  near  by,  filled  up  the  complement 
of  viands  that  formed  his  simple  repast. 

He  had  but  just  begun  it  when  a  slight  sound  like  the 
crackling  of  a  dry  twig,  near  at  hand,  made  him  look 
up. 

The  flickering  firelight  showed  him  a  tall  dark  form 
creeping  stealthily  toward  him,  another  and  much  smaller 
one  close  at  its  heels. 

He  instinctively  put  out  his  hand  for  his  gun,  lying  by 
his  side,  then  drew  it  back  as  he  perceived  that  the 
approaching  strangers  were  a  woman  and  child.  The 
former  was  wrapped  in  an  Indian  blanket,  and  carried  a 
pappoose  on  her  back. 


60          THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST, 

"  Me  friend,"  she  said  in  broken  English.  "  Me  hun- 
gry ;  pappoose  hungry,"  pointing  to  the  little  one  trot- 
ting at  her  side. 

"  Sit  down  and  I  will  feed  you,"  Kenneth  answered, 
making  room  for  her  near  the  fire. 

She  seated  herself  upon  the  roots  of  a  tree,  the  child 
crouching  at  her  feet,  laid  the  babe,  which  was  sleeping 
soundly,  across  her  lap,  and  taking  the  food  he  offered 
shared  it  with  the  other  child. 

Something  in  her  look  and  manner  half  startled 
Kenneth.  He  hastily  threw  a  pine  knot  upon  the  fire. 
It  burst  into  a  bright  blaze,  throwing  a  strong  light 
upon  the  face  and  figure  of  the  stranger,  and  Kenneth's 
heart  throbbed  as  he  looked  keenly  at  her,  at  first  beat- 
ing high  with  hope,  then  almost  it  stood  still  in  disap- 
pointment and  despair. 

"  She  is  too  young,"  he  sighed  to  himself  ;  then 
speaking  aloud,  "  You  are  a  white  woman,"  he  said. 

"  Squaw,"  she  answered,  shaking  her  head. 

"  You  have  grown  up  among  the  Indians  and  perhaps 
forgotten  your  own  parents,"  he  remarked,  gazing 
earnestly  upon  her,  "  but  your  blood  is  white  ;  you  have 
not  an  Indian  feature  ;  your  eyes  are  blue,  your  hair  is 
red  and  curly." 

She  evidently  but  half  comprehended  what  he  was 
saying,  gave  him  no  answer  save  an  enquiring  bewildered 
look. 

He  called  to  his  aid  the  slight  knowledge  he  had  gained 
of  the  Indian  tongue,  and  at  length  succeeded  in  making 
himself  understood. 

At  first  she  utterly  denied  that  she  belonged  to  the 
white  race,  repeating  her  assertion  that  she  was  a  squaw, 
but  finally  admitted  that  he  was  right,  acknowledging 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  6 1 

that  she  had  a  faint  recollection  of  being  carried  away  by 
the  Indians  in  her  very  early  childhood. 

He  asked  if  she  would  not  like  to  go  back  ;  at  which 
she  answered  very,  emphatically  that  she  would  not,  she 
was  the  squaw  of  a  young  Indian  brave,  and  the  mother 
of  these  his  children  ;  loved  husband  and  children  dearly, 
and  would  on  no  account  leave  them. 

She  had  strayed  from  her  camp  that  day  and  lost 
her  way  in  the  woods,  but  would  find  it  again  and  go 
back  to  the  Indian  village,  distant  not  more  than  two  or 
three  miles,  when  the  moon  was  up. 

He  ceased  his  persuasions,  but  regarded  her  with  inter- 
est, thinking  how  sad  it  was  that  the  child  of  civilized, 
perhaps  Christian,  parents  should  have  become  so  entirely 
savage. 

He  asked  if  she  knew  of  any  other  white  woman  among 
the  Indians. 

She  did  not. 

He  talked  to  her  of  God  and  of  Christ,  telling  the 
sweet  story  of  the  cross,  but  was  doubtful  how  much  of 
it  she  was  able  to  grasp. 

She  listened  with  a  half  interested,  half  puzzled  air,  a 
gleam  of  intelligence  occasionally  lighting  up  her  some- 
what stolid  face. 

But  the  silvery  rays  of  the  moon  came  stealing  through 
the  branches  overhead,  and,  rousing  the  older  child,  who 
had  fallen  asleep  on  the  ground  at  her  feet,  the  woman 
arose,  shouldered  her  still  slumbering  babe,  and  wrapping 
her  blanket  about  her,  gave  Kenneth  a  farewell  nod,  and 
with  the  little  one  trotting  at  her  heels  as  before,  quickly 
disappeared  amid  the  deep  shadows  of  the  wood. 

The  object  of  Kenneth's  journey  had  been  accom- 
plished ;  the  tiny  flame  of  hope  enkindled  by  the  infor- 


62         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

mation  gleaned  from  the  hunter  had  gone  out  in  darkness, 
and  naught  remained  for  him  but  to  take  up  again  his 
burden  of  secret  grief  and  care,  and  go  on  with  life's 
duties  with  what  courage  and  patience  he  might. 

Weary  with  the  day's  travel,  he  yet  made  no  movement 
toward  preparation  for  sleep.  Long  hours  he  sat  over 
his  fire  in  an  attitude  of  deep  despondency,  hands  clasped 
about  his  knees,  head  bowed  upon  his  breast ;  then  kneel- 
ing upon  the  ground  he  poured  out  his  soul  in  prayer. 

"  Lord,  the  cross  is  very  heavy,  the  cup  very  bitter, 
yet  how  light  and  sweet  compared  with  what  thou  didst 
bear  and  drink  for  me  !  Forgive,  oh,  forgive  the  sin  of 
thy  servant !  Who  am  I  that  I  dare  complain  or  mur- 
mur ?  Lord,  hear  the  cry  of  thy  servant !  strengthen  him 
that  he  rest  in  the  Lord  and  wait  patiently  for  Him ; 
though  it  be  till  his  feet  stand  upon  the  other  shore." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THERE  was  as  yet  no  post-office  in  Chillicothe,  and  no 
regular  mail.  One  came  occasionally,  brought  by  a  man 
on  horseback,  and  its  arrival  was  always  an  event  fraught 
with  deep  interest  to  most  of  the  inhabitants. 

This  occurred  during  Kenneth's  absence,  for  the  first 
time  in  many  weeks.  There  was  a  letter  for  him  from 
Glen  Forest,  of  which  Dale  took  possession,  paying  the 
postage. 

"  When  will  your  master  be  home  ? "  he  asked  of  Zeb, 
who  was  lounging  before  the  office  door. 

"  Dunno,  sah  ;  he  didn't  say,  sah." 

"  Where  did  he  go  ? " 

"  Dunno,  sah  ;  said  he  gwine  on  a  hunt ;  wouldn't  be 
home  for  two  or  three  days." 

"  Two  or  three  days  !  and  he's  been  gone  nearly  a 
week,"  exclaimed  Dale,  stepping  into  his  office.  "  Nearly 
a  week,"  he  went  on  thinking  aloud,  as  he  seated  himself 
at  his  desk  and  laid  the  letter  on  it.  "  I  wonder  if  we 
shouldn't  turn  out  in  a  body  and  hunt  for  him  ;  he  may 
have  met  with  an  accident  or — the  treacherous  savage  !  " 

He  frowned  anxiously  at  the  letter  for  a  moment,  then 
with  sudden  recollection  turned  from  it  to  busy  himself 
with  his  own  correspondence.  Several  letters  had  come 
for  him,  and  they  must  be  read,  digested,  and  answered. 
They  absorbed  his  attention  for  some  hours,  then  came 
the  call  to  supper,  and  still  Dr.  Clendenin  was  missing. 

Dale  was  growing  very  uneasy  ;  Kenneth  had  become 


64         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

as  a  brother  to  him.  "  I  must  do  something,"  he  said 
to  himself  on  his  return  to  his  office,  taking  up  the  letter 
again  and  gazing  earnestly  at  it.  "What  can  have 
become  of  him  ?  Where  can  he  have  gone  ?  If  he  isn't 
here  within  an  hour,  I  shall  go  and  consult  the  major. 

"  Ah  !  "  he  went  on  musingly,  still  gazing  at  the  missive 
in  his  hand,  "  wouldn't  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  if  he 
knew  this  was  here  waiting  for  him,  that  is,  if  he's  alive 
and  free  ?  How  eager  he  always  is  for  these  letters,  yet 
never  opens  one  before  anybody,  never  alludes  to  their 
contents. 

"  And  they  always  seem  to  increase  that  mysterious 
trouble  that  he  keeps  so  carefully  to  himself,  and  tries  so 
hard  to  throw  off,  even  when  he  and  I  are  quite  alone 
together." 

But  at  that  instant  there  was  a  sound  of  horse's  hoofs 
in  the  street  without,  then  a  glad  exclamation  from  Zeb, 
"  Ki,  massa  doctah  !  thought  the  Injuns  got  you  dis  time, 
suah  ! "  and,  throwing  down  the  letter,  Dale  rushed  to 
the  door  to  greet  his  friend. 

Kenneth  was  in  the  act  of  dismounting,  saying  in  a 
kindly  tone  to  Zeb,  as  he  gave  him  the  reins,  "  No  ; 
here  I  am  quite  safe.  Has  there  been  any  letter  or  mes- 
sage for  me  ? " 

"  Yes  ;  there  was  a  mail  to-day,"  Dale  said,  stepping 
forward  and  grasping  his  friend's  hand  with  affectionate 
warmth.  "  A  letter  for  you.  Come  in,  I  have  it  here. 
But,"  with  a  look  of  surprise  and  concern  at  the  haggard 
face  and  drooping  figure,  "  you  are  ill,  my  dear  fellow  !  " 

"  Not  at  all,  only  somewhat  weary  and  worn,"  Ken- 
neth answered,  with  a  faint  smile  that  had  neither  mirth 
nor  gladness  in  it.  "  But  the  letter,  Godfrey  !  Is  it 
from — " 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         65 

"  Glen  Forest  ?  Yes  ;  the  superscription,  I  noticed,  is 
in  the  usual  hand,  post-mark  the  same  as  on  the  others. 
Here  it  is.  Take  this  chair,  and  while  you  read  I'll  run 
over  and  tell  Tiffin  to  see  that  they  get  a  hot  supper 
ready  for  you." 

Putting  the  missive  into  Kenneth's  eager,  almost 
trembling,  hand,  he  hurried  away  before  the  latter  could 
utter  a  word  of  thanks. 

For  weeks  Kenneth  had  been  hungering  for  this  let- 
ter, yet  now  that  he  held  it  in  his  hand  he  seemed  to 
have  need  to  gather  up  courage  for  its  perusal.  For  a 
moment  he  sat  with  closed  eyes,  lips  moving,  though  no 
sound  came  from  them  ;  then  he  broke  the  seal  and 
read  ;  at  first  eagerly,  hastily,  with  bated  breath,  then, 
turning  back  to  the  beginning,  with  more  care  and 
deliberation,  dwelling  upon  each  sentence,  while  the 
shadow  deepened  on  his  brow,  and  again  and  again  his 
broad  breast  heaved  with  a  heavy  sigh. 

At  length,  at  the  sound  of  approaching  footsteps,  he 
rose  and  retreated  to  his  own  office,  at  the  same  time 
refolding  the  letter  and  putting  it  in  his  pocket. 

Dale  had  delayed  purposely  on  his  errand,  stopping 
to  chat  now  with  one,  now  with  another,  in  the  tavern, 
then  in  the  street. 

At  his  own  door  he  was  met  by  Major  Lamar  with  the 
question,  "  Any  news  of  the  doctor  yet  ?  " 

"  Yes,  he's  just  back  ;  looking  quite  worn  out,  too." 

"  Ah  !  I'm  sorry  to  hear  that.  I  can  see  him,  I  sup- 
pose ? " 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  walk  right  in.  I  left  him — why,  no,  he 
isn't  here  !  Sit  down,  major,  and  I'll  hunt  him  up." 

But  here  let  us  go  back  and  tell  of  some  occurrences  of 
the  previous  day  in  the  major's  family. 


66         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Early  in  the  afternoon  Tig  was  standing  with  elbows 
on  the  fence  and  chin  in  hands,  lazily  watching  the  sports 
of  the  children  as  they  vied  with  each  other  in  the  agility 
with  which  they  could  leap  over  stumps  and  logs,  when 
Silvy's  voice  came  sharply  to  his  ears,  "  Tiglath  Pileser, 
you  lazy  niggah,  what  you  doin'  dar  ?  Didn't  I  tole  you 
to  clean  de  knives  ?  Now  Miss  Nell  is  ready  for  to  go 
ridin'  and  you  just  go  right  'long  and  fotch  'de  hosses 
roun'  soon's  eber  you  kin  git  dem  saddled." 

"  Am  I  to  go  'long,  mother  ? "  queried  Tig,  turning 
with  alacrity  to  obey ;  for  the  horses  were  the  pride  of 
his  heart,  a  ride  with  Miss  Nell  his  greatest  delight,  espe- 
cially when  he  was  her  sole  companion  and  protector  ; 
and  to-day  he  thought  he  should  be,  as  he  knew  of  no 
other  escort. 

His  mother's  reply  confirmed  his  hopes.  "  Course  you 
is  ;  you  always  gets  dat  honor  when  dar  ain't  no  gentle- 
man 'bout." 

Tig  made  haste  to  the  stable,  saddled  and  bridled 
Fairy  and  a  pony  belonging  to  the  major  with  unaccus- 
tomed speed,  and  led  them  round  to  the  front  door, 
where  Miss  Nell  was  waiting  in  riding  hat  and  habit. 

"  You  were  very  quick  this  time,  Tig,"  she  said  with 
an  approving  smile. 

"  Ki  !  Miss  Nell,"  he  answered,  grinning  from  ear  to 
ear,  "  no  wondah  ;  I'se  in  a  big  hurry,  les'  some  dem 
gentlemen  mout  be  comin'  'long  'fo'  we  gets  off." 

"  What  gentlemen,  Tig  ?  "  she  asked,  laughing,  as  she 
stepped  upon  the  horse-block  and  sprang  lightly  into  the 
saddle. 

"  Oh,  de  doctah,  or  Mistah  Dale,  or  some  dem  other 
gentlemen.  'Tain't  often  dis  chile  gets  a  chance  to  take 
care  ob  you,  Miss  Nell." 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         67 

"  Do  you  think  you  can  take  care  of  her,  Tig  ?  "  asked 
Mrs.  Lamar,  coming  to  the  door  with  a  basket  in  her 
hand. 

"  Guess  I  kin,  mistis,  I  ain't  'fraid  no  Injuns,  nor 
b'ars,  nor  painters  !  "  cried  the  boy,  straightening  himself 
with  an  air  of  injured  dignity. 

"  Don't  boast,  Tig,  till  your  courage  has  been  put  to 
the  test,"  answered  his  mistress.  "  Here,  take  this 
basket  and  see  if  you  can  get  it  full  of  ripe  mulberries 
for  tea.  Nell,  I  really  don't  feel  quite  sure  that  I  ought 
to  let  you  go  without  a  better  protector." 

"  Nonsense,  Clare  !  I've  done  it  before,"  returned 
the  young  girl,  her  color  rising.  "  And  the  responsibil- 
ity is  not  yours,  I'm  old  enough  to  decide  such  matters 
for  myself."  And  with  that  she  touched  Fairy  lightly 
with  the  whip  and  cantered  off,  Tig  following  close  in 
her  rear.  It  was  a  lovely  summer  afternoon,  the  heat  of 
the  sun  tempered  by  a  cool,  refreshing  breeze.  Fairy 
had  scarcely  been  out  of  the  stable  for  a  day  or  two  and 
was  full  of  spirit,  and  Nell  reveled  in  the  delight  of 
dashing  away  at  almost  headlong  speed  through  the  for- 
est and  over  the  prairies. 

So  enjoyable  did  she  find  the  swift  movement,  with  the 
sense  of  wild  freedom  it  gave  her,  the  beauty  of  the  land- 
scape, the  sweet  scent  of  the  woods  and  wild  flowers, 
that  she  went  much  farther  than  she  had  at  first  intended, 
or,  indeed,  was  aware  of. 

Then  coming  back  she  stopped  with  Tig  under  a 
cluster  of  mulberry  trees  on  the  edge  of  a  prairie,  to  fill 
the  basket  with  fruit. 

Not  caring  to  stain  her  pretty  fingers,  she  left  the  boy 
to  fulfil  the  task  alone,  while  she  wandered  to  and  fro, 
gathering  flowers. 


68         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

The  sun  was  getting  low  as  they  remounted. 

"  We  must  hurry,  Tig,"  Nell  said,  glancing  uneasily 
toward  the  west.  "  I  did  not  think  we  had  been  here  so 
long." 

They  sped  across  the  prairie  and  entered  the  wood 
that  lay  between  it  and  the  town.  Here  it  was  already 
dusk,  and  Nell  urged  Fairy  on,  her  heart  beating  fast, 
while  she  glanced  hither  and  thither,  seeming  to  see  an 
Indian,  a  bear,  wolf,  or  panther  behind  every  tree. 

Suddenly  she  caught  sight  of  a  pair  of  fiery  eyes  glar- 
ing upon  her  from  an  overhanging  branch,  and  the  next 
instant,  with  a  low,  fierce  growl,  something  leaped  upon 
the  back  of  her  horse,  a  huge  paw  was  laid  on  her 
shoulder,  a  hot  breath  fanned  her  cheek,  while  a  wild 
shriek  from  Tig  rang  in  her  ears,  and  Fairy  reared  and 
snorted  with  fear. 

Oh,  the  mortal  terror  that  seized  upon  Nell,  almost 
freezing  the  blood  in  her  veins  !  Closing  her  eyes  she 
leant  forward  and  threw  her  arms  about  the  neck  of  her 
pony,  clinging  to  it  in  frantic  terror  for  what  seemed  an 
age  of  suffering,  but  was  in  reality  scarcely  a  moment. 
•  A  bullet,  sped  by  an  unerring  hand,  struck  the  pan- 
ther in  the  eye,  and  it  fell  to  the  ground  dead. 

A  horseman,  hurrying  from  the  direction  of  the  town, 
put  spurs  to  his  steed  at  sound  of  the  report  of  the  gun, 
and  almost  before  its  echoes  had  died  away,  Nell  was  in 
her  brother's  arms. 

He  soothed  and  caressed  her,  she  lying  on  his  breast, 
sobbing  and  speechless  with  fright. 

"  Ugh  !  big  fellow  !  "  grunted  a  voice  near  at  hand, 
and  Nell,  looking  up,  saw  a  tall  Indian  standing  over  the 
prostrate  wild  cat,  the  outline  of  whose  form  could  be 
dimly  discovered  in  the  fading  light. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         69 

"  Wawillaway,"  said  the  major,  holding  out  his  hand 
to  the  chief,  "  you  have  saved  my  sister's  life,  and  I  can 
never  fully  return  the  obligation  !  Come  with  us  to 
Chillicothe.  My  house  shall  be  your  home  whenever 
you  choose  to  make  it  so." 

Wawillaway  grasped  the  offered  hand  in  one  of  his 
own,  while  with  the  other  he  held  the  bridle  of  Fairy, 
who  was  shying  at  the  dead  panther,  and  trembling  and 
snorting  with  fear. 

"  Indian  good  gun,"  he  said.  "Indian  go  to  white 
man's  wigwam.  Come,  white  squaw  very  much  'fraid." 

"  Yes,  Nell,  we  had  better  go ;  for  it  grows  darker 
every  moment.  Can  you  sit  your  horse  now  ? " 

"  Yes,"  she  whispered,  "  I  must.  But  oh,  Percy,  keep 
close  to  me  !  " 

"  As  close  as  I  can.  I  will  lead  your  horse,"  he 
answered,  as  he  placed  her  in  the  saddle.  "  But  where  is 
Tig  ?  I  thought  he  was  with  you." 

Tig  had  fled  in  overpowering  terror,  at  the  instant  of 
the  discharge  of  Wawillaway's  gun,  and  on  reaching 
home  they  found  him  there,  telling  an  incoherent  story  of 
attacking  Indians  and  wild  cats,  that  filled  the  household 
with  alarm. 

Great  was  their  relief  at  the  sight  of  the  major  and  his 
sister,  though  Nell  was  in  a  state  of  nervous  prostration 
and  excitement  that  made  it  necessary  to  put  her  at  once 
to  bed  and  watch  by  her  during  the  night. 

The  next  day  she  was  but  little  better,  and  on  her  ac- 
count her  brother  had  been  anxiously  looking  for  Dr. 
Clendenin's  return,  and  had  now  come  in  search  of 
him. 

Kenneth  was  not  long  in  making  his  appearance.  His 
manner  was  calm  and  quiet  as  usual,  and  shaking  hands 


7,0  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

with  the  major,  who  expressed  hearty  satisfaction  at  see- 
ing him  again,  he  asked  if  the  family  were  all  well. 

"  All  but  Nell,"  was  the  reply,  "  and  I  don't  know 
that  there's  much  amiss  with  her.  But  I  should  like  you 
to  see  her.  She  had  a  terrible  fright  yesterday,  and 
doesn't  seem  to  get  over  it." 

Kenneth's  look  was  anxious  and  inquiring. 

"  I  supposed  you  had  heard — "  the  major  began,  but 
Dale  interrupted,  "  No,  no,  he  hasn't  had  time  to  hear 
anything  yet,  or  even  to  eat  ;  and  here  comes  Zeb  with 
his  supper.  I  told  him  to  bring  it  over  to  your  office, 
doctor." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Kenneth,  "  but  it  can  wait.  I  will 
go  with  you  at  once,  major." 

But  the  major  would  not  hear  of  it. 
.  "  There  is  no  hurry,"  he  insisted.     "  Besides  you  ought 
to  hear  the  story  of  her  fright  before  seeing  her,  and  may 
as  well  do  so  while  breaking  your  fast." 

Kenneth  yielded,  for  he  had  not  tasted  food  since 
early  morning,  and  felt  in  sore  need  of  it. 

"  What  can  we  do  for  her  ?  "  asked  the  major  in  con- 
clusion. 

"  Divert  her  mind  from  the  subject  as  much  as  pos- 
sible," returned  the  doctor.  "  Dosing  is  not  what  she 
needs." 

"  My  opinion  exactly,"  responded  the  major,  "  but  I 
must  crave  your  assistance  in  applying  your  prescription." 

"  Certainly,  my  dear  sir,  I  will  do  my  best." 

It  was  a  fair  summer  evening,  the  sun  just  touching 
the  tree-tops,  as  Kenneth  left  his  office  in  company  with 
the  major. 

People  were  gathered  about  the  doors  of  their  dwell- 
ings or  places  of  business,  the  day's  work  done  for  most 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         71 

of  the  men,  though  the  busy  housewives  still  plied  the 
needle,  sewing  or  knitting ;  thus  exemplifying  the  truth 
of  the  old  adage,  "  Man's  work  is  from  sun  to  sun,  but  a 
woman's  work  is  never  done." 

Children  played  hide  and  seek  among  the  trees,  their 
glad  voices  ringing  out  upon  the  quiet  air  in  merry 
shouts  and  silvery  laughter  ;  but  many  of  them,  on 
catching  sight  of  Kenneth,  left  their  sport  to  run  and 
take  him  by  the  hand,  welcoming  him  with  eager  delight, 
and  asking  him  where  he  had  been  so  long. 

Older  people,  too,  crowded  about  him  with  a  like  greet- 
ing and  the  same  question. 

He  parried  it  as  best  he  might,  not  feeling  disposed  to 
be  communicative  on  the  subject,  returned  the  hand- 
shakings and  kindly  greetings,  and  asked  after  the  health 
of  each  family  represented. 

"You  have  won  all  hearts  here,  Dr.  Clendenin,"  the 
major  remarked,  when  at  length  they  had  parted  with 
the  last  of  the  friendly  interrogators  and  were  drawing 
near  his  own  door. 

"  Oh,  I  believe  it  is  so!  "  Kenneth  answered,  with  a  glad 
lighting  up  of  his  grave,  almost  sad  face,  "  and  I  some- 
times wonder  how  it  has  come  about." 

"  Love  begets  love,  and  so  it  is  with  disinterested  kind- 
ness also,"  the  major  answered. 

Mrs.  Lamar,  coming  to  meet  them,  caught  the  last 
words.  "  Quite  true,"  she  assented,  holding  out  a  hand 
to  Kenneth,  "  and  I  know  of  no  one  else  in  whose  case 
we  see  such  an  exemplification  of  that  fact  as  in  Dr.  Clen- 
denin's.  Doctor,  running  away  so  suddenly  and  mysteri- 
ously, you  left  many  an  anxious  heart  behind  you." 

She  gave  him  a  look  of  keen  curiosity  as  she  spoke. 
But  he  would  not  take  the  hint. 


72  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  My  friends  are  very  kind  and  I  would  not  willingly 
cause  them  a  moment's  uneasiness,"  was  all  he  said.  It 
was  gently  spoken,  but  tone  and  manner  did  not  invite 
a  further  display  of  inquisitiveness. 

Nell,  seated  in  the  doorway  in  a  listless  attitude,  rose 
suddenly  on  perceiving  her  brother's  approach  and  who 
was  with  him,  and,  overcome  by  an  unaccountable  fit  of 
shyness,  hastily  retreated  into  the  house,  her  heart  beating 
fast,  the  hot  blood  dyeing  her  cheek. 

Then,  much  vexed  with  herself,  she  turned  at  the  sound 
of  Kenneth's  voice  saying  "  Good  evening,"  and  gave 
him  her  hand  with  a  murmured  "  How  do  you  do, 
doctor  ? " 

He  made  her  sit  down,  and  drew  up  a  chair  for  himself 
close  to  her  side. 

"  Don't  be  afraid  of  me  because  I  come  in  my  profes- 
sional capacity,"  he  said  in  a  playful  tone,  again  taking 
her  hand  and  laying  a  finger  on  her  pulse. 

"  You  needn't,"  she  said  with  a  little  pout,  and  seeming 
half  inclined  to  jerk  the  hand  away.  "  I'm  not  sick.  I 
wonder  what  nonsense  Percy's  been  telling  you." 

They  were  alone  ;  the  major  and  his  wife  had  wandered 
on  up  the  street ;  the  children  were  sporting  outside  with 
their  mates. 

"  None  at  all,"  he  answered  with  his  grave  smile,  "only 
that  your  nerves  have  had  a  shock  from  which  they  do 
not  find  it  easy  to  recover." 

"  I'm  not  sick,  and  I  won't  be  called  nervous  !  I  just 
wish  people  would  let  me  alone  !  "  she  cried  angrily, 
bursting  into  tears  in  spite  of  herself.  "  Oh  dear  !  oh 
dear  !  "  she  sobbed,  "  I  don't  know  what  has  come  over 
me  !  I  never  was  so  ill-tempered  or  so  babyish  before  !  " 

"  Don't  be  vexed  with  me  for  saying  it  is  because  you 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.          73 

are  not  well,"  he  answered  soothingly.  "  Let  the  tears 
have  their  way  and  they  will  relieve  you  greatly." 

She  cried  quite  heartily  for  a  moment,  then  wiping 
away  her  tears,  said  with  half  averted  face,  and  in  a  tone 
of  suppressed  horror,  shuddering  as  she  spoke,  "  Oh,  I 
cannot  forget  it  ! — those  fiery  eyes  gleaming  out  at  me 
in  the  darkness,  the  heavy  paw  on  my  shoulder,  the  hot 
breath  on  my  cheek  !  I  seem  to  see  and  feel  them  all  the 
time,  sleeping  or  waking.  What  shall  I  do  ? " 

"  Try  to  forget  it,"  he  said  gently  ;  "  turn  your  thoughts 
as  much  as  possible  to  other  things,  and  the  effect  of  your 
fright  will  gradually  wear  away." 

"  I  cannot  forget  it,"  she  answered  sadly.  "  I  shall 
always  be  afraid  to  go  into  the  woods  now,  and  my  walks 
and  rides  were  the  greatest  pleasures  I  had." 

"  Ah,  well,"  he  said,  "  the  wild  animals  will  soon  be 
driven  from  our  immediate  neighborhood  ;  and  in  the 
meantime  you  must  go  well  protected.  My  dear  Miss 
Nell,"  he  added  in  lower,  sweeter  tones,  "  you  know 
there  is  One  whose  protecting  care  is  over  us  at  all  times 
and  in  all  places.  Try  to  trust  in  Him  with  a  simple, 
childlike  confidence  ;  such  faith  will  do  more  to  give  you 
calmness  and  peace  than  anything  else  can." 

A  moment's  pause  ;  then  turning  the  conversation 
upon  other  themes,  he  exerted  himself  for  her  entertain- 
ment till  the  major  and  his  wife  came  in,  when  he  shortly 
took  his  leave ;  for  there  were  other  patients  requiring 
his  attention. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

"  How  did  you  find  Miss  Lamar,  doctor  ?  Anything 
much  the  matter  ? "  asked  Dale,  sauntering  into  his 
friend's  office  that  evening,  shortly  after  the  return  of  the 
latter  from  his  round  of  visits  among  his  patients. 

Kenneth  sat  at  his  table,  spatula  in  hand,  making  pills, 
a  slight  cloud  of  care  on  his  brow. 

His  reply  was  not  a  direct  answer  to  the  question. 

"  Sit  down,  Godfrey,"  he  said.  "  I've  been  thinking 
of  calling  in  your  aid  in  the  management  of  this  case." 

"  Mine  ?  "  laughed  Dale. 

"  Yes,  as  consulting  physician." 

"You  are  certainly  jesting,  yet  you  look  as  grave  as  a 
judge  on  the  bench." 

"  I  wish,"  Kenneth  said,  pausing  for  an  instant  in  his 
work  and  looking  earnestly  at  Dale,  "that  there  was 
more  young  society  here,  more  to  amuse  and  interest  a 
young  girl  like  Miss  Lamar.  Can't  you  help  me  to  think 
of  something  new  ?  " 

"  Boating  parties,"  suggested  Dale. 

"  That  will  do  for  one  thing.     Now  what  else  ?  " 

"  Get  up  a  class  in  botany.  I'll  join  it.  You  are  quite 
an  enthusiast  in  that  line  and  know  a  great  deal  more  on 
the  subject  than  any  one  else  about  here." 

"  Thank  you.  I  should  enjoy  it  if  others  would.  Any- 
thing more  ? " 

"  No,  I  should  say  I'd  done  my  share  of  thinking,  and 
you  must  finish  up  the  job  yourself,  you  who  are  to 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         75 

pocket  the  fee,"  returned  Dale  laughing.  "  Now  I'm  off, 
prescribing  a  night's  rest  for  you,  to  be  taken  at  once  ; 
for  you  are  looking  wretchedly  worn  out." 

Very  weary  Kenneth  certainly  was,  yet  the  friendly 
counsel  was  not  taken.  His  work  finished,  he  pushed 
his  implements  aside,  and  sat  long  with  his  folded  arms 
upon  the  table,  his  head  resting  on  them  ;  not  sleeping, 
for  now  and  again  a  heavy  sigh,  or  a  few  low  breathed 
words  of  prayer  came  from  his  lips. 

"  Oh  Lord,  for  them,  for  them,  I  beseech  thee,  in  the 
midst  of  wrath  remember  mercy  !  Let  them  rest  under 
the  shadow  of  thy  wing,  till  these  calamities  be  overpast." 

Both  Dale's  suggestions  in  the  line  of  amusements  were 
promptly  carried  out,  and  with  excellent  effect  upon  the 
patient.  She  was  fond  of  plants  and  flowers,  and  Ken- 
neth proved  a  capital  teacher.  Mrs.  Lamar  and  several 
others,  both  married  and  single,  joined  the  class  and  they 
had  many  a  pleasant  ramble  over  hill  and  valley  in 
search  of  specimens. 

The  major  provided  a  boat  for  the  rowing  parties  and 
frequently  made  one  of  them  himself,  taking  special  care 
of  his  young  sister. 

When  he  was  not  present  Kenneth  took  his  place  in 
this  particular,  but  not  at  all  in  a  lover-like  way  ;  his 
manner  was  fraternal,  "  sometimes  almost  paternal," 
Nell  thought,  with  an  emotion  of  anger  and  pique  at 
"  being  treated  so  like  a  child." 

"  It  is  because  I  was  so  silly  as  to  cry  before  him!  He 
thinks  me  a  mere  baby,"  she  said  to  herself  now  and 
again,  in  extreme  vexation. 

She  was  apt  to  be  frank  in  the  expression,  or  rather 
exhibition  of  her  feelings,  and  Kenneth  was  at  times  not 
a  little  puzzled  to  understand  in  what  he  had  offended. 


76         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

He  never  blamed  her,  however,  but,  attributing  her  dis- 
pleasure to  some  fault  or  awkwardness  in  himself, 
redoubled  his  kindly  attention,  and  his  efforts  to  give 
pleasant  and  healthful  occupation  to  her  thoughts. 

With  this  in  view  he  would  often  take  a  book  from  his 
pocket,  when  he  found  himself  alone  with  her,  read  aloud 
some  passage  that  he  particularly  admired,  and  draw  her 
into  conversation  about  it. 

Also  he  tried  to  interest  her  in  his  patients,  occasion- 
ally taking  her  with  him  where  he  knew  her  visits  would 
be  welcome,  and  engaging  her  to  prepare  dainties  to 
tempt  the  sickly  appetites,  and  clothing  for  such  as 
were  poor  enough  to  need  assistance  of  that  kind. 

His  only  thought,  so  far  as  she  was  concerned,  was  to 
comfort  and  relieve,  and  it  did  not  occur  to  him  that 
there  might  be  danger  in  the  cure,  for  her  as  for  him- 
self. 

Yet  there  was ;  for  how  could  the  girl  gain  such  an 
insight  into  the  noble  generosity  and  unselfishness  of  his 
character,  without  learning  to  love  him  ?  It  was  not  only 
his  unvarying  kindness  towards  herself,  his  patient  for- 
bearance even  in  her  most  petulant  and  unreasonable 
moods,  but  also  his  sympathy  for,  and  gentleness  toward, 
even  the  very  poorest  and  most  uninteresting  and  un- 
grateful of  those  who  invoked  his  aid  as  a  physician,  his 
anxiety  and  untiring  efforts  to  relieve  suffering,  and  his 
unselfish  joy  when  those  efforts  were  successful. 

Also  his  deep,  humble,  unassuming  piety,  and  earnest 
desire  to  lead  to  the  Great  Physician,  that  there  might  be 
healing  of  soul  as  well  as  body. 

Her  admiration  and  respect  grew  day  by  day,  until  he 
seemed  to  her  an  example  of  all  that  was  good  and  great 
and  lovable. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.          77 

Dale,  too,  unwittingly  helped  on  the  mischief.  He  had 
some  notion  of  courting  pretty  Nell  himself,  so  did  not 
care  to  interest  her  too  much  in  Kenneth;  but  his  thoughts 
were  often  full  of  the  latter,  the  strange  secret  that 
seemed  to  darken  his  life  ;  and  remembering  Kenneth's 
expressed  desire  to  engage  Nell's  thoughts  upon  matters 
that  would  take  them  from  herself  and  the  unfortunate 
occurrence  that  had  shaken  her  nerves,  and  calling  to 
mind  also  that  she  had  come  from  the  same  neighborhood 
with  Kenneth  and  would  be  likely  to  know  the  family 
history  of  the  Clendenins,  he  deemed  it  no  harm  to 
broach  the  subject  one  day  when  alone  with  her,  and  ask 
if  she  could  guess  what  their  friend's  sorrow  was. 

"  No,"  she  said  in  surprise.  "  I  never  heard  of  any- 
thing that  could  cause  him  such  grief.  They  are  well-to- 
do  people,  living  on  a  lovely  place  of  their  own  ;  they 
are  most  highly  respected  too.  I  frequently  heard 
them  spoken  of,  always  in  the  highest  terms,  and  never 
heard  of  any  trouble,  except  that  Kenneth's  twin  brother 
was  drowned  ten  or  twelve  years  ago.  But  surely  he 
could  not  be  grieving  so  over  that  now  !  " 

"  No,  it  can't  be  that."  Dale  said  musingly,  "  it  is  evi- 
dently a  deeper  sorrow  than  any  such  bereavement  could 
bring,  or  at  least  a  grief  and  burden  of  a  different 
sort." 

"  Are  you  not  mistaken  ?  May  it  not  be  a  mere  fancy 
on  your  part  ? "  queried  Nell.  "Dr.  Clendenin  has  always 
struck  me  as  a  very  cheerful  person." 

"  He  is  not  one  to  obtrude  his  griefs  upon  others," 
observed  Dale  in  reply.  "  He  forces  himself  to  be  cheer- 
ful when  in  general  society,  and  seldom  allows  even  me, 
his  intimate  friend,  to  perceive  that  he  has  a  burden  to 
bear ;  but  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  he  sometimes 


78  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

passes  half  the  night  pacing  his  office  instead  of  taking 
the  rest  he  needs  after  his  day's  toil." 

From  that,  he  went  on  to  speak  of  Kenneth's  late  mys- 
terious, lonely  journey,  and  to  describe  the  state  in  which 
he  had  returned, 

Nell's  heart  was  deeply  touched.  "  How  noble  he 
is ! "  was  her  mental  exclamation.  "  But  Mr.  Dale 
should  not  have  told  me,  it  seems  almost  like  betraying 
his  friend's  confidence.  I  suppose  he  does  not  look  upon 
it  in  that  light,  but  I  am  quite  sure  Dr.  Clendenin  would 
never  have  done  so  by  him." 

"  Of  course,"  said  Dale,  breaking  the  momentary 
silence,  "  this  is  between  ourselves.  I  have  never  men- 
tioned these  things  to  any  one  else,  and  never  shall." 

"  Nor  shall  I,  Mr.  Dale,"  she  answered. 

She  did  not,  but  from  that  time  she  watched  Kenneth 
more  closely  than  ever  before,  and  that  with  the  growing 
conviction  that  Dale  was  right. 

It  became  with  her  an  absorbingly  interesting  subject 
of  thought ;  her  heart  was  more  and  more  filled  with  pity 
for  Kenneth's  silent  suffering,  and  pity  is  akin  to  love. 

But  what  could  be  the  cause  of  this  strange,  silent 
anguish  ?  Was  it  unrequited  love  ?  She  spurned  the 
thought.  What !  he  of  all  men  to  sue  in  vain  ?  It  could 
not  be  !  What  woman's  heart  could  withstand  such  a 
siege  ? 

She  did  not  care  for  him  in  that  way — oh  no,  not  she  ; 
but  that  was  quite  another  thing,  he  had  not  sought  her, 
and  she  was  not  one  to  give  her  heart  unasked. 

The  town  was  growing,  the  country  rapidly  filling  up 
with  settlers,  mostly  of  the  better  class,  refined,  intelli- 
gent, educated  and  pious  people. 

Also  many  gentlemen   from  the  older  states,  princi- 


THE  THOR.V  IN  THE  NEST.  ^g 

pally  Virginia  and  Kentucky,  came  to  look  at  land  with 
a  view  to  purchasing,  and  these  always  sought  out  Major 
Lamar  and  were  hospitably  entertained  by  him. 

Thus  Nell  saw  a  great  deal  of  society.  She 
enjoyed  it  too,  was  a  general  favorite,  and  formed 
some  pleasant  friendships  with  these  guests  of  the  family  ; 
but  half  unconsciously  she  made  Dr.  Clendenin  her 
standard  of  manly  perfection,  and  found  all  others  short 
of  it. 

While,  however,  in  some  of  these  visitors  possible 
lovers  might  have  been  found,  many  were  men  in  middle 
life,  old  companions  in  arms  of  the  major.  And  these 
were  not  the  least  welcome  to  Nell,  for  she  loved  to  sit 
and  listen  to  them  and  her  brother  as  they  fought  their 
battles  over  again  around  the  fire  in  the  cool  spring  or 
autumn  evenings  ;  or  on  the  green  sward  before  the 
door  in  the  warm  summer  nights. 

Few  of  them  came  in  winter,  and  at  that  season  boat- 
ing, botanizing  and  long  rambles  into  the  country  had  of 
course  to  be  given  up,  yet  that  less  favored  time  was 
not  without  its  quiet  pleasures. 

There  was  much  spinning,  weaving,  sewing  and 
knitting  going  on,  the  ladies  often  carried  their  work 
to  a  neighbor's  house  and  spent  a  sociable  afternoon 
together,  winding  up  with  an  early  tea.  There 
were  also  social  gatherings  about  the  fire  in  the 
evenings,  enlivened  by  cheerful  chat,  the  cracking  of 
nuts,  several  varieties  of  which  were  found  in  great 
abundance  in  the  woods  around  the  village,  and  scraping 
turnip,  these  last  being  used  as  a  substitute  for  apples, 
until  time  had  been  given  for  their  cultivation. 

Thus  had  the  summer  passed,  the  autumn  too,  and 
midwinter  had  come,  finding  Nell  fully  recovered  from 


So          THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

the  effects  of  her  fright,  her  fears  dispelled,  her  nerves  as 
steady  as  ever  they  had  been. 

It  was  the  second  winter  since  her  arrival  in  Chillicothe, 
and  she  had  become  really  attached  to  the  place  and  its 
cheerful  social  life,  so  free  from  formality  and  restraint. 

Calling  at  the  major's  one  evening,  Kenneth  found  her 
alone  in  the  sitting-room,  quietly  knitting  and  thinking 
beside  the  fire. 

The  wide  chimney  was  heaped  high  with  hickory  logs, 
and  the  dancing,  flickering  flames  filled  the  whole  room 
with  a  cheerful,  ruddy  light. 

Nell's  back  was  toward  the  door  and  she  did  not  per- 
ceive his  entrance,  till  he  spoke  close  at  her  side,  his 
pleasant  "  Good  evening,  I  hope  I  do  not  intrude  ? " 
rousing  her  from  her  reverie. 

"  Oh  no,  doctor,  you  are  always  welcome  in  this  house," 
she  said,  rising  to  give  him  her  hand,  and  inviting  him  to 
be  seated. 

"  I  knocked,"  he  said  apologetically,  "  but  no  one 
seemed  to  hear,  so  I  ventured  to  admit  myself." 

"  Quite  right,"  she  answered,  "  though  I  do  not  under- 
stand how  I  happened  to  miss  hearing  your  rap." 

"  Preoccupation,"  he  remarked  with  a  half  absent 
smile,  gazing  thoughtfully  into  the  fire  as  he  spoke. 
"  You  are  all  quite  well  ?  " 

"  Quite,  thank  you.  My  brother  and  sister  are  out 
spending  the  evening  ;  and  the  children  are  in  bed." 

He  did  not  speak  again  for  several  minutes,  but  sat 
watching  the  flames  as  they  leaped  hither  and  thither, 
but  evidently  with  thoughts  faraway  ;  and  Nell,  furtively 
studying  his  countenance,  read  there  the  silent  suffer- 
ing Dale  had  spoken  of. 

Her  woman's  heart  longed  to  speak  a  word  of  sym. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         8l 

pathy  and  comfort ;  but  how  should  she  when  she  knew 
not  what  his  sorrow  was  ? 

"  I  am  glad,"  he  said  at  length,  "  to  hear  that  you  are 
all  well.  I  am  going  away,  and  could  not  feel  satisfied 
to  do  so  without  learning  that  my  services  were  not 
needed  here." 

"  Going  away  ? "  she  echoed.  "  We  had  not  heard  of 
it." 

"  No  ;  it  is  scarcely  an  hour  since  I  knew  it  myself." 

"  Where  ?  how  long  ?  "  she  asked  impetuously,  with 
changed  countenance  ;  then  blushing  to  think  she  had 
betrayed  so  much  curiosity  and  interest — "  Excuse  me, 
but  Percy  and  Clare  will  be  anxious  to  know ;  some  of 
us  may  be  taken  sick." 

"  Yes ;  but  we  will  hope  not,"  he  said,  in  the  same 
calm,  even  tone  he  had  used  all  along,  his  gaze  still  fixed 
upon  the  fire.  "  I  go  out  into  the  wilderness,  Miss  Nell, 
and  the  time  of  my  return  is  uncertain." 

"  Now  !  in  this  most  inclement  season  of  the  year  ? " 
she  exclaimed.  "  Isn't  it  running  a  great  risk  ?  would  it 
not  be  wiser  to  put  off  your  journey  till  spring  opens  ?  " 

"  I  think  not,"  he  answered  slowly  ;  "  life  is  uncertain, 
and  what  my  hand  finds  to  do  must  be  done  with  my 
might." 

"  But  if  you  lose  your  life  ? " 

"  It  will  be  in  the  path  of  duty  ;  and  there  are  some 
things  worth  even  that  risk,  Miss  Nell." 

He  turned  his  head,  and  his  eyes  looked  full  into  hers. 

"  They  must  be  of  very  great  importance,"  she 
answered,  returning  his  look  with  one  as  calm  and  quiet  as 
his  own,  though  her  pulses  quickened  at  the  thought 
that  he  was  perhaps  about  to  appeal  to  her  for  sympathy 
in  his  mysterious  sorrow. 


82  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST 

But  he  did  not. 

"  Do  you  not  agree  in  my  opinion  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes  ;  if  I  had  been  in  Percy's  place  when  the  war 
broke  out,  I  would  have  done  just  as  he  did — periled 
my  life  and  all  I  had  for  my  country,"  she  said  with  kind- 
ling eyes. 

He  smiled  approval,  then  rising,  "  Good-by,  Miss 
Nell,"  he  said,  taking  her  hand  in  his,  "  I  must  away." 

"  What  !  to-night  ?  and  do  you  go  alone  ? " 

"  I  start  to-night,  Wawillaway  is  to  be  my  guide  a  part 
of  the  way,"  he  said  ;  "  after  that  my  horse  and  gun  will 
be  my  sole  companions." 

"  Oh,  can't  you  get  Wawillaway  to  go  with  you  all  the 
way  ?  I  should  feel — so  much  more  hopeful  for  your  safe 
return  !  "  she  exclaimed  ;  then  blushing  deeply,  as  she 
saw  his  face  light  up  with  pleasure  while  he  asked, 

"  Do  you  really  care  for  that  ?  "  she  hastily  withdrew 
her  hand,  saying  almost  pettishly  : 

"  Of  course  I  care  to  have  you  here  in  case  any  of  the 
family  should  be  taken  sick.  You  understand  our  con- 
stitution, and  are  the  only  doctor  in  the  town  that  we 
have  the  least  confidence  in." 

His  countenance  fell,  and  she  thought  she  heard  a 
faint  sigh  as  he  turned  sadly  away,  and  with  a  silent  bow 
left  the  house. 

She  dropped  into  a  chair,  hid  her  face  in  her  hands, 
and  burst  into  a  passion  of  tears. 

"  Oh,  how  could  I  !  how  could  I  !  when  he  has  been  so 
good  and  kind  to  me  !  "  she  sobbed.  "  It's  just  as  if  I 
had  struck  him  a  cruel  blow,  and  oh  !  I  could  beat  myself 
for  it !  " 

Her  words,  and  yet  more  her  tone  and  manner  in 
speaking  them,  had  indeed  wounded  Kenneth.  He  had 


THE  THORN'  IN  THE  NEST.         83 

brought  a  care-burdened  and  sorrowful  heart  into  her 
presence,  and  he  carried  it  away  with  an  added  pang. 

He  was  himself  surprised  to  find  that  she  had  power 
to  wound  him  so  deeply.  He  had  not  known  before 
how  dear  the  wilful  little  maiden  had  become  to  him  ; 
but  this  pain  opened  his  eyes. 

"  Ah,  what  have  I  been  doing  ?  "  he  cried,  half  aloud, 
as  he  strode  onward  toward  his  office,  "  and  why  am  I 
regretting  that  for  which  I  should  be  unutterably  thankful 
— that  I  alone  suffer,  because  of  my  imprudence  ?  I  must, 
I  will  be  grateful  that  she  has  not  given  her  young  heart 
to  such  a  one  as  I.  And  yet — and  yet — but  ah  me,  this 
is  hoping  even  against  hope  !  Yet  will  I  not  utterly 
despair,  for  with  God  all  things  are  possible." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

NELL  cried  till  she  brought  on  a  slight  headache,  then 
made  that  an  excuse  for  going  to  bed  before  the  return 
of  her  brother  and  his  wife.  She  did  not  want  to  face 
the  keen  scrutiny  of  Clare,  who  would  be  sure  to  detect 
the  traces  of  tears  and  to  make  a  shrewd  guess  at  their 
cause. 

The  girl  had  ample  space  for  repentance,  overpower- 
ing anxiety  and  dread  in  the  next  two  or  three  weeks ; 
and  though  she  continued  to  hide  her  feelings  from  those 
about  her,  seeming  quite  as  light  hearted  and  gay  as  was 
her  wont,  the  darkness  of  night  was  witness  to  many 
sighs  and  tears. 

Dale  came  in  on  the  evening  after  her  late  interview 
with  Kenneth,  and  seizing  an  opportunity  for  a  few 
words  in  private,  asked  her  what  she  thought  of  Dr. 
Clendenin's  starting  off  upon  such  a  journey  at  that 
inclement  season  of  the  year. 

"  Why  should  I  trouble  myself  about  it  ?  "  Nell  asked, 
with  a  slight  toss  of  her  pretty  head.  "  I  presume  the 
doctor  knows  his  own  business." 

"  Possibly,"  returned  Dale,  with  gravity,  "  but  can  you 
conjecture  what  that  business  is  ?  " 

"  Can  you  ?  "  she  asked.  "  Perhaps  some  Indian  chief 
is  ill,  or  has  a  sick  wife  or  child,  and  wishes  to  test 
the  skill  of  the  medicine  man  of  the  whites." 

"  Your  ingenuity  does  you  credit,  Miss  Lamar," 
remarked  Dale,  poking  the  fire,  "  but  I  am  satisfied  that 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         85 

Clendenin  has  gone  on  the  same  errand  that  took  him 
before  ;  and  that  is  a  chase  after  a  white  woman  living 
among  the  Indians." 

"  A  relative  ?  "  queried  Nell,  with  interest. 

"  No  ;  he  told  me  he  had  never  had  relative  or  friend. 
taken  by  them  ;  and  that  is  what  makes  his  evident 
anxiety  to  find  her  so  puzzling,  so  utterly  inexplicable  to 
me." 

"  Neither  relative  nor  friend,"  pondered  Nell,  as  she 
lay  awake  that  night,  listening  to  the  sough  of  the  wind 
around  the  house,  the  creaking  of  the  trees  in  its  fierce 
blast,  the  rattle  of  sleet  against  the  outer  wall,  and  the 
distant  howl  of  the  prairie  wolf,  and  thinking  of  Kenneth 
without  shelter  from  storm  or  wild  beast,  "  if  it  were  his 
lady  love  he  would  never  say  that." 

This  was  not  a  heavy  or  lasting  storm,  the  morning 
sun  rose  in  a  clear  sky,  and  several  days  of  mild  bright, 
weather  followed. 

After  that  it  grew  bitterly  cold,  and  for  many  hours  a 
fierce  tempest  raged,  and  the  snow  fell  fast,  the  wind 
whirling  it  furiously  about  till  all  the  roads  and  paths 
were  blocked  up  with  it,  and  in  places  the  drifts  were 
many  feet  deep. 

Kenneth  was  on  his  homeward  way  when  this  storm 
began,  with,  as  he  had  said,  no  companion  save  his  horse 
and  his  gun. 

On  the  latter  was  his  principal  reliance  for  a  supply  of 
food,  though  he  had  in  his  saddle-bags  sufficient  coarse 
corn-bread  to  keep  him  from  actual  starvation. 

And  well  was  it  for  him  that  he  had  come  so  provided, 
as  the  whirling,  blinding  snow  rendered  the  pursuit  of 
game  impossible  for  the  time  being. 

Indeed  he  soon  found  it  impossible  to  continue  his 


86         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

journey,  and  coming  upon  a  comparatively  sheltered 
spot,  at  the  foot  of  a  rock,  he  dismounted,  secured  his 
horse,  and  with  some  difficulty  collecting  a  supply  of  dry 
branches,  twigs,  bark  and  leaves,  finally  succeeded^  in 
kindling  a  fire  with  his  flint  and  steel  and  a  bit  of  burnt 
rag  which  he  carried  for  the  purpose  in  his  tinder  box. 

His  mission  had  not  been  successful  and  his  heart  was 
heavy  with  disappointment,  care  and  grief,  as  he  sat 
there  over  his  fire  listening  to  the  howling  of  the  storm 
as  the  wind  swept  through  the  forest,  the  giant  trees 
bending  and  creaking  in  the  blast,  groaning,  breaking, 
falling  before  it  and  beneath  the  weight  of  snow  and 
sleet. 

At  length  there  was  a  slight  lull  in  the  tempest,  and 
Kenneth  crept  out  from  his  hiding  place  and  wandered 
hither  and  thither  in  search  of  fuel  with  which  to  replen- 
ish his  fire. 

Plunging  into  a  snowdrift  his  foot  caught  in  some- 
thing and  he  had  nearly  fallen  over — what  ?  was  it  a 
log?  Surely  not  !  His  heart  gave  a  wild  throb,  he 
stooped,  and  hastily  brushing  away  the  snow  found  an 
Indian  lad  sleeping  that  fatal  sleep,  that,  undisturbed, 
ends  in  death. 

Exerting  all  his  strength,  Kenneth  took  the  boy  in  his 
arms,  shook  him  roughly,  shouted  in  his  ears,  and  catch- 
ing up  a  handful  of  snow,  rubbed  it  briskly  over  the 
half  frozen  face. 

He  dragged  him  to  the  shelter  of  the  rock,  but  not 
close  to  the  fire,  and  continuing  his  efforts  at  length 
succeeded  in  rousing  him,  and  finally  in  restoring  circu- 
lation and  warmth  to  his  benumbed  limbs. 

Then  he  took  him  to  the  fire,  fed  him  and  made  him 
share  his  blanket,  taking  him  in  his  arms  that  it  might 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         87 

cover  them  both  :  and  so  with  their  feet  to  the  fire,  and 
each  hugged  close  to  the  other's  breast,  they  slept 
through  the  dark,  stormy  night. 

The  morning  broke  bright,  clear  and  cold,  icicles 
depending  from  the  trees,  snow  heaped  high  on  every 
side,  too  high  to  admit  of  moving  more  than  a  few 
paces  from  their  sheltered  nook.  It  was  as  if  they  were 
shut  up  in  prison  together. 

The  lad  knew  that  Kenneth  had  saved  his  life  and  he 
was  very  grateful.  He  was  a  Shawnee,  and  had  been 
travelling  from  one  Indian  village  to  another,  but  blinded 
by  the  whirling  sleet  and  snow  had  lost  his  way  and  at 
last,  overcome  with  fatigue,  hunger  and  cold,  had  lain 
down  to  rest  and  sleep. 

He  could  speak  but  a  few  words  of  English  ;  but 
Kenneth  had  gained  considerable  knowledge  of  the 
Shawnee  tongue  since  making  acquaintance  with  Wa- 
willaway,  and  was  able  to  converse  with  the  boy  to  their 
mutual  satisfaction. 

They  remained  together  for  some  days,  keeping  up 
their  fire  and  feeding  on  some  wild  turkeys  Kenneth 
fortunately  succeeded  in  shooting ;  then  parting  with 
kindly  adieus  and  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand,  each  went 
his  way,  Kenneth  toward  Chillicothe,  the  Indian  lad  in  a 
nearly  opposite  direction. 

While  yet  two  or  three  miles  from  the  town,  Kenneth 
saw  in  the  distance  a  white  man  and  an  Indian  coming 
toward  him  from  thence. 

They  were  Dale  and  Wawillaway,  and  as  they  drew 
near  the  former  uttered  a  joyous  shout. 

"  Hello,  doc  !  so  here  you  are,  safe  and  sound  !  We 
feared  you  were  buried  in  the  snowdrifts  and  we'd  have 
to  dig  you  out." 


88  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

There  was  a  hearty  shaking  of  hands  as  they  met. 

"  Did  you  come  out  in  search  of  me  ?  "  asked  Ken- 
neth. 

"  We  did,"  said  Dale,  "  and  are  rejoiced  to  have 
found  you  so  easily.  Your  friends  have  been  exceed- 
ingly anxious  in  regard  to  your  safety,  fearing  you  could 
hardly  have  weathered  the  heavy  storm  of  last  week. 
How  did  you  manage  it  ?  " 

Dale  and  the  Indian  had  wheeled  about,  and  all  three 
were  ploughing  their  way  through  the  snow  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  town. 

Kenneth  answered  the  question  as  they  went,  with  a 
brief  account  of  his  sojourn  at  the  foot  of  the  rock  in 
the  wilderness. 

He  said  nothing  of  the  object  of  his  journey  or 
whether  it  had  been  successful  ;  but  Dale's  furtive  yet 
searching  glances  read  a  fresh  and  bitter  disappointment 
in  the  weary,  haggard  face,  and  drooping  figure. 

"  And  my  friends  have  been  anxious  for  my  safety,  you 
say  ?  "  Kenneth  said  inquiringly,  and  with  a  wistful  look 
in  his  large  gray  eyes,  thinking  of  a  fair  young  face 
that  had  sometimes  brightened  at  his  coming. 

"  Yes,"  said  Dale,  "  it  has  been  for  the  last  three  days 
the  most  exciting  theme  of  conversation  with  old  and 
young.  It's  a  fine  thing  to  be  a  doctor,  if  you  care  to 
have  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor  interested  in  your 
safety." 

It  was  the  middle  of  the  afternoon.  Mrs.  and  Miss 
Lamar  plied  the  needle  within  doors  while  the  children 
were  engaged  in  winter  sports  without  —  sledding,  slid- 
ing and  snow-balling. 

Suddenly  they  came  tearing  in,  half  wild  with  joy. 

"  Oh,  mother  and  Aunt  Nell,  he's  come  !  he's  come  !  " 


THE  THORN  IN'  THE  NEST.  89 

"  Who  ?  "  and  Nell's  heart  beat  fast  and  loud.  It  had 
been  well  nigh  breaking  with  the  thought  of  a  manly 
form  lying  still  and  cold  out  in  the  wilderness  with  a 
snow  wreath  for  its  winding  sheet,  yet  she  had  given 
no  sign,  but  seemed  the  gayest  of  the  gay. 

"  Dr.  Clendenin  !  "  cried  the  children  in  chorus  ;  "  he 
didn't  get  lost  in  the  snow  or  killed  by  the  Indians,  we 
just  saw  him  ride  by  with  Mr.  Dale  and  Wawillaway." 

Nell  stitched  away,  apparently  quite  indifferent  to  the 
news,  but  her  heart  sang  for  joy,  and  all  the  rest  of  the 
day  her  ear  was  strained  to  catch  the  sound  of  his 
approaching  footsteps. 

The  major  brought  him  home  to  tea  and  though  Mrs. 
Lamar  welcomed  him  most  cordially,  and  the  children 
hailed  his  coming  with  delight,  Nell's  manner  was 
reserved  and  quiet  almost  to  coldness. 

He  took  the  limp,  passive  hand  in  his  for  an  instant, 
as  he  gave  one  wistful  glance  into  the  unmoved  face, 
then  with  the  thought,  "  She  does  not  care  for  me,  and 
it  is  well,"  yet  sighing  inwardly,  turned  away  and  entered 
into  conversation  with  the  major  and  his  wife. 

"  We  have  been  very  anxious  about  you,  doctor,  ever 
since  that  fearful  storm  set  in,"  Mrs.  Lamar  was  saying. 
"  We  feared  you  must  perish  if  exposed  to  it.  Did  you 
not  suffer  terribly  ?  " 

"  Oh  no,"  he  answered  cheerily,  "  I  fared  very  well," 
and  went  on  to  tell  of  the  sheltered  rock  he  had  found, 
and  that  he  had  a  fire,  a  good  blanket  and  something  to 
eat. 

"  Tell  us  all  about  it,"  the  children  begged,  clustering 
round  him  and  climbing  upon  his  knees. 

"  Were  you  all  alone  ? "  asked  Bess  ;  "  I  do  think  it 
must  be  dreadful  to  be  alone  in  the  woods  at  night." 


po         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  No,  I  was  not  quite  alone  through  it  all,"  he  said, 
stroking  her  hair. 

"  Oh,  I  know  !  you  mean  God  was  with  you  ? " 

"  Yes  ;  but  I  had  a  human  companion,  too,  an  Indian 
boy,  who  told  me  his  name  was  Little  Horn." 

Nell  asked  no  question,  but  she  was  not  the  least 
interested  of  those  who  listened  to  the  story  of  the  find- 
ing of  the  lad  and  the  way  in  which  the  two  passed  their 
time  while  storm-stayed  together  in  the  wood. 

She  was  furtively  studying  Kenneth's  face  while  he 
talked,  sorrowfully  taking  note  of  its  worn,  thin  look,  and 
the  deepening  of  the  lines  of  grief  and  care  that  made  it 
seem  older  than  his  years  warranted.  Its  expression  at 
this  moment  was  cheerful,  as  were  the  tones  of  his  voice, 
but  she  had  no  need  to  be  told  that  for  him  "  Disappoint- 
ment still  tracked  the  steps  of  hope." 


CHAPTER  X. 

TIME  passed  on  ;  a  year,  two  years  rolled  away. 
Settlers  had  continued  to  move  into  the  town  and 
adjacent  country,  and  Kenneth's  practice  had  grown  with 
the  growth  of  the  population. 

This  was,  perhaps,  one  reason  why  there  had  been  a 
great  falling  off  in  the  frequency  of  his  visits,  other  than 
professional,  at  Major  Lamar's. 

It  was,  at  all  events,  the  excuse  he  gave,  for  that  and 
for  absenting  himself  from  nearly  all  the  pleasure  parties 
and  merry-makings  of  the  young  people.  Genial  and 
pleasant  in  his  intercourse  with  old  and  young,  he  yet 
was  no  ladies'  man  ;  seldom  paid  attention  to  any  of  the 
fair  sex,  except  in  the  way  of  his  calling  ;  he  had  no  time, 
he  said,  but  always  found  abundance  of  it  to  bestow  upon 
the  sick  and  suffering.  His  whole  heart  and  soul  were 
in  his  work. 

Some  silly  people  began  to  call  him  an  old  bachelor, 
though  he  was  still  under  thirty,  and  far  from  old  looking. 

Dale  also  was  still  single,  and  the  two  were  as  intimate 
and  warm  friends  as  ever. 

Godfrey  was  attentive  to  business,  but,  unlike  Kenneth, 
indulged  a  great  fondness  for  ladies'  society,  and  gener- 
ally made  one  in  every  little  social  gathering  and  pleas- 
ure excursion,  whether  it  were  a  moonlight  row  on  river 
or  creek,  a  picnic,  or  expedition  in  search  of  nuts  or  wild 
fruits,  a  visit  to  a  sugar  camp  in  the  spring,  or  a  gallop 
on  horseback  at  almost  any  time  of  year. 


92         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

He  was  very  intimate  at  Major  Lamar's,  and  never 
happier  than  when  he  could  secure  Miss  Nell  as  his 
special  partner  in  whatever  festivity  was  going  on. 

She  liked  Dale,  for  he  was  gallant,  courteous,  well- 
informed,  and  a  good  talker  of  either  sense  or  nonsense, 
but  she  took  care  not  to  receive  too  much  attention  from 
him,  or  to  encourage  hopes  she  never  meant  should  be 
realized. 

She  was  developing  into  a  noble,  lovable  woman,  fail 
and  comely  in  more  than  ordinary  degree. 

She  had  a  fine  form,  a  queenly  carriage,  and  Kenneth's 
eyes  often  followed  her  with  a  wistful,  longing  look  as 
she  passed,  either  riding  or  walking.  Yet  he  stood 
quietly  aside  and  left  it  to  his  fellows  to  strive  for  the 
prize  he  coveted  above  all  other  earthly  good. 

That  strange,  mysterious  burden  still  rested  on  him, 
but  was  borne  with  a  brave,  cheerful  resignation  that  was 
heroic. 

There  were  times  of  deep  depression,  of  bitter  anguish 
of  soul,  of  fierce  conflict  with  himself,  when  the  trial 
seemed  more  than  mortal  strength  could  bear  ;  but  these 
came  at  rare  intervals,  and  faith  and  grace  ever 
triumphed  in  the  end. 

Letters  from  home,  where  he  had  not  visited  since 
emigrating  to  Chillicothe,  and  his  lonely  journeys  into  the 
wilderness,  of  which  he  had  made  several  in  the  interval 
we  have  passed  over,  seemed  alike  ever  to  bring  him 
increased  sadness  of  heart.  Yet  few  but  Dale  knew  this, 
Kenneth's  mastery  over  himself  enabling  him  to  put  aside 
his  private  griefs  and  cares  when  in  the  company  of  others. 

Thus  his  heart  was  ever  at  leisure  from  itself  and 
ready  to  sympathize  in  the  interests,  the  joys  and  sorrows 
or  physical  sufferings  of  those  about  him. 


THE  THORX  LV  THE  NEST.          93 

As  a  natural  consequence,  there  were  many  who  cher- 
ished for  him  a  very  warm  friendship. 

The  Nashes  had  removed  to  a  farm  a  mile  or  more  from 
town.  Mrs.  Nash  was  still  the  same  cheery,  genial  soul 
she  had  shown  herself  on  the  journey  to  Ohio,  and  Nell 
Lamar,  who  had  ever  been  a  favorite  with  the  good  dame, 
loved  to  visit  at  the  farm-house,  and  would  sometimes 
tarry  there  for  a  week  or  a  fortnight,  when  conscious  of 
not  being  needed  at  home. 

She  and  Mrs.  Barbour  were  both  there  one  sultry 
summer  day,  Nell  expecting  to  make  a  prolonged  stay, 
the  other  lady  intending  to  return  home  in  the  cool  of  the 
evening.  She  had  now  two  children  younger  than  Flora, 
and  had  brought  all  three  with  her. 

"  It  was  a  great  deal  of  trouble,"  she  complained  in  the 
old  whining,  querulous  tones  ;  "  children  were  such  a 
care  !  always  in  the  way  and  making  no  end  of  trouble  if 
you  took  them  along,  and  if  you  left  them  at  home  you 
were  worried  to  death  lest  something  should  happen  to 
them." 

This  was  repeated  again  and  again,  with  slight  varia- 
tions, till  her  unwilling  listeners  would  fain  have  stopped 
their  ears  to  the  doleful  ditty,  and  Mrs.  Nash,  quite  out 
of  patience,  at  length  exclaimed  : 

"  Nancy,  I  should  think  you'd  be  afraid  to  fret  so 
about  your  worry  with  the  children,  lest  Providence 
should  take  them  away  !  I  don't  deny  that  it  is  a  good 
deal  of  work  and  care  to  nurse  and  provide  for  them  ; 
but  they're  worth  it ;  at  least,  mine  are  to  me,  and  there's 
nothing  worth  having  in  this  world  that  we  don't  have  to 
pay  for  in  one  way  or  another.  And  for  my  part,  I'm 
willing  to  pay  for  my  pleasures  and  treasures,"  she  added, 
clasping  her  babe  fondly  to  her  breast. 


94         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

The  Nash  family  also  had  increased  in  numbers.  Tom 
and  Billy,  now  grown  great  hearty  boys,  were  with  their 
father  in  the  field,  and  two  little  girls  sat  on  the  door- 
step, each  with  a  rag  doll  in  her  arms,  which  the  busy 
mother  had  found  time  to  make  and  Miss  Nell's  skil- 
ful fingers  had  just  finished  dressing.  The  baby  boy  on 
the  mother's  knee  was  the  last  arrival,  six  months  old 
and  the  pet,  darling  and  the  treasure  of  the  entire  house- 
hold, from  father  down  to  two-year-old  Sallie. 

"  You  never  did  have  any  sympathy  for  me,  Sarah," 
whimpered  Mrs.  Barbour,  lifting  the  corner  of  her  apron 
to  her  eyes.  "  I  wasn't  born  with  such  spirits  as  you 
have,  and  it  ain't  my  fault  that  I  wasn't,  and  I  don't 
believe  I'm  half  as  stout  and  strong  as  you  are  ;  and 
it's  just  the  same  with  the  children,  yours  are  a  great 
deal  healthier  than  mine,  and  that  makes  it  easier  for 
you  in  more  ways  than  one.  You  and  Nash  don't  have 
the  big  doctor  bills  to  pay  that  we  have,  and  you  don't 
get  all  worn  out  with  nursing." 

"  Well,  Nancy,"  returned  her  sister-in-law, "  maybe  I'm 
not  as  sympathizing  as  I  should  be ;  but  there  is  such 
a  thing  as  cultivating  good  spirits  and  a  habit  of  looking 
at  the  bright  side,  trusting  in  the  Lord  and  being  content 
with  what  He  sends,  and  that  has  a  good  deal  to  do 
with  health.  Perhaps  if  your  children  had  a  cheerier 
mother,  they'd  have  better  spirits  and  better  health." 

"  There  it  is  !  I'm  always  blamed  for  my  misfortunes  ; 
that's  just  the  way  Dr.  Clendenin  talks  to  me,  and 
Barbour  too,  and  I  think  it's  a  burning  shame,"  sobbed 
the  abused  woman.  "  I'm  sure  I  wish  I  was  dead  and 
done  with  it  !  and  so  I  shall  be  one  o'  these  days  ;  and 
then  perhaps  you  and  Tom  will  wish  you'd  treated  me  a 
little  better." 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         95 

"  My  brother  Tom's  a  very  good  husband  to  you," 
remarked  Mrs.  Nash  coolly,  "  and  I  don't  feel  conscience 
smitten  for  any  abuse  I've  given  you  either.  It's  Bible 
doctrine  I've  been  urging  on  you.  It  bids  us  over  and 
over  again  to  be  content,  to  be  free  from  care,  casting  it 
all  on  the  Lord,  to  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  to  be  glad  in 
Him,  to  rejoice  always,  to  shout  for  joy. 

"  And  well  we  may,  knowing  that  life  here  is  short,  and 
no  matter  how  many  troubles  we  may  have  they'll  soon 
be  done  with  and  we  shall  be  forever  with  the  Lord  ; 
that  is,  if  we're  His  children." 

Here  Nell  broke  in  upon  the  conversation  with  a 
sudden  exclamation.  "  That  cat  is  acting  very 
strangely  !  "  and  as  she  spoke  the  animal  came  rushing 
in  from  an  adjoining  wood-shed  and  dashed  wildly 
about,  gnashing  its  teeth  furiously,  its  tongue  hanging  out 
and  dripping  with  froth. 

Both  women  sprang  up  with  a  scream.  "  It's  mad  ! 
it's  mad  !  it's  frothing  at  the  mouth  !  "  Mrs.  Nash  clutch- 
ing her  babe  in  a  death  like  grasp  and  springing  toward 
the  other  children  to  save  them,  Mrs.  Barbour  snatching 
her  youngest  from  the  floor,  while  Nell  caught  up 
the  next  in  age  and  sat  it  on  top  of  a  high  old  fashioned 
bureau,  at  the  same  time  calling  to  Flora,  who  was  out- 
side, to  "  Run,  run  !  climb  a  tree  or  the  fence  !  " 

Then  seizing  a  broom  she  rushed  at  the  cat  and  drove 
it  under  the  bed. 

"  Oh  what'll  we  do  ?  what'll  we  do  ?  "  shrieked  Mrs. 
Barbour,  the  children  screaming  in  chorus.  "  Why  didn't 
you  drive  it  out  of  doors  ?  " 

"  You  run  out  yourself  and  take  the  children  with  you. 
I  did  the  best  I  could,"  returned  Nell,  her  voice  trem- 
bling with  agitation.  "  You,  too,  Mrs.  Nash,  save  the 


96         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

children  and  I'll  fight  the  cat.  Where's  your  clothes 
line  ?  quick,  quick  !  Oh,  I  see  it !  "  and  snatching  it  from 
the  nail  where  it  hung,  in  a  trice  she  had  it  opened  out 
and  a  noose  made  in  one  end. 

Then  tearing  off  beds  and  bed  clothes,  tumbling  them 
unceremoniously  upon  the  floor,  she  mounted  the  bed- 
stead, lifted  a  slat  or  two  from  the  head,  underneath 
which  the  cat  crouched,  snarling,  spitting,  foaming,  biting 
in  a  frightful  manner. 

Nell  shuddered  and  shrank  back  with  a  cry  of  terror 
as  the  infuriated  animal  made  a  spring  at  her,  but  gather- 
ing up  all  her  courage,  let  down  the  noose  and  swung  it 
slowly  to  and  fro. 

A  moment  of  terrified,  almost  despairing  effort,  fol- 
lowed by  success,  the  noose  was  drawn  tight,  the  rabid 
creature  lay  strangled  and  dead,  and  the  brave  young 
girl  dropped  in  a  dead  faint  upon  the  pile  of  bedding  on 
the  floor. 

The  others  had  obeyed  her  behest  and  fled  from  the 
house,  leaving  her  to  battle  single-handed  with  the 
enraged  animal,  while  they  filled  the  air  with  cries  for 
help. 

A  horseman  came  at  a  swift  gallop  up  the  road,  put- 
ting spurs  to  his  steed  as  the  sounds  of  distress  greeted 
his  ear. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  he  asked,  drawing  rein  in  front  of  the 
house  and  springing  from  the  saddle. 

"  Oh,  Dr.  Clendenin,  there's  a  mad  cat  in  the 
house,  and  Miss  Nell's  trying  to  kill  it  !  "  cried  the  two 
women  and  Flora  in  chorus  ;  but  the  words  were  scarcely 
uttered  before  he  had  dashed  in  at  the  open  door. 

His  heart  leaped  into  his  throat  at  sight  of  the  prostrate 
form  on  the  confused  heap  of  bedding,  the  body  of  the 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         97 

strangled  cat  so  near  that  the  toe  of  her  slipper  touched 
it. 

t     "  Oh,  my  darling  !  "  he  exclaimed  in  low,  moved  tones 
as  he  sprang  to  her  side. 

Then  in  almost  frantic  haste  he  searched  for  the  marks 
of  the  creature's  teeth  on  her  hands  and  arms.  There 
were  none. 

He  tore  off  her  shoes  and  stockings,  his  hands  trem- 
bling, his  face  pale  with  a  terrible  fear. 

"  Thank  God  !  "  he  said  at  last,  drawing  a  long  breath 
of  relief. 

He  knelt  down,  loosened  her  dress,  laid  her  more  com- 
fortably, her  head  lower,  doing  all  with  exceeding  ten- 
derness, and  turning  to  Mrs.  Nash,  who  had  ventured 
in  after  him,  leaving  her  little  ones  in  Mrs.  Barbour's 
care,  said  huskily  :  "  Some  cold  water  !  quick  !  quick  ! 
She  has  fainted." 

"  Oh,  doctor,  is  she  hurt  ?  "  asked  the  woman  in 
tremulous  tones,  as  she  hastily  handed  him  a  gourd  filled 
with  water  from  the  well  bucket. 

He  did  not  answer  for  a  moment.  He  was  sprinkling 
the  water  upon  the  still,  white  face,  his  own  nearly 
as  colorless.  Would  she  never  revive  ?  those  sweet 
eyes  never  open  again  ? 

Ah,  the  lids  began  to  quiver,  a  faint  tinge  of  rose 
stole  into  the  fair,  softly  rounded  cheek. 

"  I  hope  not,"  he  said  with  an  effort.  "  It  was  the 
fright  probably.  A  fan,  please." 

Mrs.  Nash  brought  one  and  gave  it  in  silence. 

Nell's  eyes  opened  wide,  gazing  full  into  his.  The 
faint  tinge  on  her  cheek  deepened  instantly  to  crimson, 
and  starting  up  in  confusion,  she  hastily  stammered  out 
some  incoherent  words,  and  burst  into  tears. 


98         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Lie  still  for  a  little,  Nell,"  Kenneth  said,  gently 
forcing  her  back. 

Never  were  tones  more  musical  with  tenderness,  never 
had  eyes  spoken  a  plainer  language,  and  the  girl's  heart 
thrilled  with  a  new,  ecstatic  joy.  For  years  her  hard 
but  determined  task  had  been  to  school  it  to  indifference  ; 
but  now,  now  she  might  let  it  have  its  way.  He,  so  noble, 
so  good,  would  never  deceive  her,  never  wrong  her. 

"  Oh,  Nell,  you  are  not  hurt  ?  not  bitten  ?  "  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Nash  almost  imploringly. 

"  Hurt  ?  bitten  ?  "  repeated  Nell,  in  a  half  bewildered 
way.  Then  as  her  eye  fell  upon  the  dead  cat  and  the 
whole  scene  came  back  to  her  with  a  rush,  "  No,  no," 
she  said,  shuddering  and  hiding  her  face  in  her  hands  ; 
"  it  sprang  at  me,  but  missed  and  fell  back  on  the  floor, 
and  at  last  it  ran  its  head  into  the  noose,  jerked  away 
and  strangled,  and  " — laughing  hysterically — "  I  don't 
know  what  happened  after  that." 

Mrs.  Nash  knelt  down  by  her  side  and  began  putting 
on  her  stockings  and  shoes. 

"  The  doctor  pulled  them  off  to  see  if  you'd  got  a  bite 
there,"  she  explained.  "  Oh  I'll  never  cease  to  thank  the 
Lord  that  you  escaped  !  I  feel  as  if  I'd  been  a  mean 
coward  to  run  off  and  leave  you  to  fight  the  mad  thing 
all  alone.  But  it  wasn't  myself  I  was  thinking  of,  but 
the  children." 

"  I  know  it,"  murmured  Nell,  "  and  I  told  you  to  go." 

Kenneth  had  moved  away  to  the  farther  side  of  the 
room.  His  face,  which  was  turned  from  them,  was  full 
of  remorseful  anguish.  Alas  !  what  had  he  done,  won 
this  dear  heart  that  he  dared  not  claim  as  his  own  ?  Oh, 
he  had  thought  the  grief,  the  pain,  the  loss  all  his  own  ! 
but  it  was  not  so,  she  too  must  suffer  and  he  could  not 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         99 

save  her  from  it,  though  for  that  he  would  freely  lay 
down  his  life. 

"  Is  it  dead,  have  you  killed  it  ?  "  queried  Mrs.  Barbour 
timorously  peering  in  at  the  open  door. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Mrs.  Nash  shortly,  and  stepping  in, 
followed  by  the  frightened  but  curious  children,  Mrs. 
Barbour  dropped  into  a  chair. 

"  Oh  !  "  she  cried,  "it's  just  awful  !  I'm  nearly  dead, 
was  most  scared  out  o'  my  wits,  and  shan ".  get  over  it 
for  a  month  !  " 

Then  catching  sight  of  the  dead  cat,  "  Ugh  !  the 
horrid  thing  !  why  don't  you  take  it  away,  some  of  you  ? 
I  feel  ready  to  faint  at  the  very  sight  of  it.  Doctor,  you'll 
have  to  do  something  for  me." 

"  There  is  nothing  I  can  do  for  you,  Mrs.  Barbour," 
he  said  coldly.  "  You  must  help  yourself,  by  deter- 
mined self-control.  After  leaving  Miss  Lamar  to  face 
the  living,  furious  animal  alone,  you  may  well  bear  the 
sight  of  it  lying,  dead,  with  all  the  rest  of  us  here  to 
share  the  danger,  if  there  be  any." 

"  There  it  is,  just  as  usual,"  she  sobbed,  "  I'm  always 
blamed  no  matter  what  happens.  I  had  my  children  to 
think  of." 

"  Never  mind,"  said  Nell,  sitting  up  ;  "  it's  all  over 
and  nobody  hurt." 

"  Nobody  hurt ! "  was  the  indignant  rejoinder. 
"  Maybe  you  ain't,  but  I  am:  I've  got  an  awful  head- 
ache with  the  fright,  and  feel  as  if  I  should  just  die  this 
minute." 

A  loud  hallo  from  the  road  without  stopped  the  torrent 
of  words  for  a  space. 

"  Is  Dr.  Clendenin  here  ?  "  shouted  a  man  on  horse- 
back, reining  in  at  the  gate. 


loo  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Kenneth  stepped  quickly  to  the  door. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  You're  wanted  in  the  greatest  kind  of  a  hurry, 
doctor  ;  over  there  in  the  edge  o'  the  woods,  where 
they're  felling  trees,  man  crushed  ;  not  killed,  but  bad 
hurt — very." 

Kenneth  was  in  the  saddle  before  the  sentence  was 
finished,  and  the  two  galloped  rapidly  away. 

"  People  oughtn't  to  be  so  careless,"  commented  Mrs. 
Barbour,  as  they  all  gathered  about  the  door  watching 
the  horsemen  till  they  disappeared  in  a  cloud  of  dust. 
"  Why  don't  they  get  out  of  the  way  when  the  tree's 
going  to  fall  ?  How  quick  the  doctor  went  off.  He's 
ready  enough  to  help  a  man,  but  wouldn't  do  anything 
for  poor  me  !  " 

"  He  told  you  what  to  do  for  yourself,"  said  her 
sister-in-law,  a  mixture  of  weariness  and  contempt  in  her 
tones. 

"  As  if  I  could  !  There  never  was  anybody  that  got 
so  little  sympathy  as  I  do,"  she  fretted,  turning  from  the 
door  and  dropping  into  her  chair  again.  "  But  I'll  have 
another  doctor.  I'll  send  for  Dr.  Buell." 

"  Dr.  Walter  Buell ;  '  Dr.  Water  Gruel  '  they  call 
him,"  laughed  Flora,  "  because  he  won't  let  'em  have 
anything  hardly  to  eat.  He'll  starve  you,  mother." 

"  Be  quiet,  Flora,"  was  the  angry  rejoinder.  "  I'm  not 
going  to  have  you  laughing  at  me.  You  ought  to  be 
ashamed  of  yourself,  poor  unfortunate  creature  that  I 
am,  and  your  mother  too  ! 

"  To  think  that  I  should  have  happened  here  to-day 
of  all  days,  when  I  don't  stir  from  home  once  in  a  month  ! 
But  that  cat  wouldn't  have  gone  mad  if  I  hadn't  been 
here." 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         IOI 

But  her  complaining  fell  upon  inattentive  ears.  Mrs. 
Nash  was  busy  ridding  the  house  of  the  dead  carcass 
and  setting  things  in  order,  and  Nell's  thoughts  were 
full  of  the  new  joy  that  had  come  to  her,  and  of  ques- 
tionings as  to  when  and  where  she  should  again  meet 
him  who  had  possessed  himself  of  her  heart's  best  affec- 
tion. Would  he  return  that  evening  ?  Verily  she  believed 
he  would. 

But  no,  he  did  not  ;  and  when  she  went  home  the 
following  day,  Clare  greeted  her  with  the"  news  that  Dr. 
Clendenin  had  gone  East  ;  he  had  been  suddenly  sum- 
moned to  Glen  Forest  by  a  letter  ;  some  one  was  very  ill, 
and  as  a  pirogue  was  just  leaving  for  Cincinnati,  he 
had  taken  passage  and  gone  down  the  river  in  it. 

Nell's  cheek  paled  a  trifle  and  her  eyes  looked  with 
mute  questioning  into  those  of  her  sister. 

"  He  left  good-by  for  you,"  said  Clare. 

And  that  was  all — all  !  The  girl's  heart  seemed  to  stand 
still  with  pain.  What  could  it  mean  ? 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE  tops  of  the  Alleghanies  loomed  up  darkly  against 
the  eastern  sky  as  it  flushed  with  the  rosy  hues  of  a  new 
day ;  the  delicate  shades  of  rose  pink  and  pale  blue 
changed  to  crimson  and  gold,  and  anon  the  increasing 
light  aroused  old  Vashti  from  the  heavy  slumber  into 
which  she  had  fallen  some  hours  before. 

She  started  up,  rubbed  her  eyes,  and  glancing  from 
the  window,  muttered,  "  'Bout  time  dis  chile  was  wakin' 
up  and  lookin'  after  tings.  Sun's  jus'  gwine  to  peep  'bove 
dose  mountings.  Wonder  how  ole  marster  is  'bout  dis 
time  ? " 

She  had  thrown  herself  down  upon  her  bed  without 
undressing.  Finishing  her  remarks  with  something 
between  a  sigh  and  a  groan,  she  slowly  gathered  herself 
up  and  went  stumbling  from  the  room,  hardly  more  than 
half  awake  yet,  having  lost  much  sleep  in  the  last  two  or 
three  weeks. 

But  reaching  the  upper  chamber  where  her  mistress 
had  kept  solitary  vigil  through  the  night,  she  entered  very 
quietly,  extinguished  the  candle,  drew  aside  the  window 
curtains,  letting  in  the  morning  light  and  air,  then  step- 
ping to  the  foot  of  the  bed,  stood  silently  gazing  upon  its 
occupant,  the  big  tears  stealing  down  her  sable  cheeks. 

The  form  lying  there  was  attenuated,  the  face  thin, 
haggard,  deathly  ;  the  sunken  eyes  were  closed,  and  the 
breath  came  fitfully  from  the  ghastly,  parted  lips. 

Mrs.    Clendenin    seemed     unconscious    of    Vashti's 


THE   THORN  7Ar  THE  NEST.  103 

entrance  ;  her  eyes  were  riveted  upon  that  pallid  face, 
the  cold  hand  was  clasped  in  hers,  and  her  heart  was 
sending  up  agonizing  petitions. 

They  were  granted  ;  he  stirred  slightly,  opened  his 
eyes,  looking  full  into  hers  with  a  clear,  steady,  loving 
gaze,  while  the  cold  fingers  feebly  responded  to  her  ten- 
der clasp. 

"  My  wife,  my  darling  !  "  he  whispered,  and  she  bent 
eagerly  to  catch  the  low  breathed  words.  "  God  bless 
you  for  your  faithful  love  !  I'm  going — going  home  to  be 
with  Christ ;  and  it's  all  peace — peace  and  light." 

The  eyelids  drooped,  the  fingers  fell  away  from  her 
grasp,  the  breast  heaved  with  one  long-drawn  sigh,  and 
all  was  still. 

She  fell  upon  her  knees  at  his  side,  still  with  his  hand 
in  hers,  her  face  radiant  with  unutterable  joy. 

"  Oh,  thank  God  !  thank  God  !  "  she  cried.  "  My  dar- 
ling, my  darling  !  at  rest,  at  rest,  and  safe  at  last  !  " 

"  Dat  he  is,  dat  he  is,  bress  de  Lord  !  "  ejaculated  the 
old  negress. 

For  many  minutes  the  new-made  widow  knelt  there 
gazing  fixedly  into  the  calm  face  of  the  dead  ;  then  rising 
she  gently  closed  the  eyes  and  composed  the  limbs  of 
him  who  had  been  to  her  nearer  and  dearer  than  aught 
else  on  earth,  not  a  tear  dimming  her  eyes,  but  a  light 
shining  in  them  as  in  those  of  one  on  whom  had  been 
suddenly  bestowed  an  intensely  longed  for  and  almost 
despaired  of  boon. 

"  No  strange  hands  shall  busy  themselves  about  thee, 
my  beloved,"  she  murmured,  "  mine,  only  mine  shall 
make  you  ready  for  your  quiet,  peaceful  sleep,  '  where 
the  wicked  cease  from  troubling  and  the  weary  are  at 
rest.'  " 


104  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Vashti  looked  on  in  wonder  and  surprise,  silently 
giving  such  assistance  as  she  might,  without  waiting  for 
orders,  bringing  needed  articles  and  making  the  room 
neat. 

At  length,  the  task  completed,  Vashti  went  down  to  her 
kitchen,  but  Mrs.  Clendenin  lingered  still  by  the  side  of 
the  beloved  clay,  gazing  with  hungry  eyes  upon  the  face 
that  must  soon  be  hidden  from  the  sight  beneath  the 
clods  of  the  valley. 

A  light  step  crossed  the  threshold  and  a  slight  girlish 
figure  stood  beside  her.  In  an  instant  Marian's  arms 
were  round  her  mother's  neck,  her  kisses  and  tears  warm 
upon  her  cheek. 

"  Precious,  precious  mother  !  Oh,  don't  let  your  heart 
break  !  " 

"  No,  darling  !  "  she  whispered,  clasping  the  weeping 
girl  in  her  arms  ;  "  it  is  full  of  joy  and  thankfulness  for 
him,  for  he  has  laid  down  his  heavy,  heavy  cross  and 
received  his  crown,  the  crown  of  righteousness  bought 
for  him  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ. 

"  Ah,  my  Angus,  how  blest,  how  blest  art  thou  !  "  she 
cried,  bending  over  the  still  form  and  pressing  her  lips  to 
the  cold  brow. 

They  lingered  over  him  for  some  minutes,  the  girl 
weeping  and  sobbing,  the  mother  calm  and  placid  ;  then 
together  they  went  down-stairs  and  out  into  the  shrub- 
bery. 

There  were  no  curious  eyes  to  watch  them  as  they 
paced  slowly  up  and  down  the  walks,  for  the  nearest 
neighbor  was  a  full  half  mile  away,  on  the  farther  side  of 
the  western  hills. 

The  mother  talked  low  and  soothingly  to  her  weeping 
child,  speaking  of  the  glories  and  bliss  of  heaven, 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         105 

and  of  the  loving  care  of  the  Lord  for  His  saints  on 
earth. 

"  Mother,  mother  !  "  cried  the  girl,  "  I  feared  your  heart 
would  break  ;  but  instead  you  seem  full  of  joy  !  " 

"  Ah,  dear  one,  life  has  been  a  terror  to  him  for  many 
years  ;  and  shall  I  mourn  that  he  has  at  last  gotten  the 
victory  ?  That  he  is  gone  home  to  his  Father's  house, 
where  there  is  perfect  safety  and  fulness  of  joy  forever 
more  ?  " 

"  Mother,"  whispered  the  girl  with  a  shudder,  "  what 
did  he  fear  ?  Why  have  I  never  been  told  ?  " 

"  Dear  child,  do  not  ask  !  Oh,  never  ask  that  !  "  cried 
the  mother  in  a  startled  tone,  and  turning  a  look  of 
anguish  upon  her  questioner. 

The  girl's  face  reflected  it. 

"  Oh,  why  is  it  that  I  am  not  to  be  trusted  ? "  she 
sobbed,  almost  wringing  her  hands  in  her  bitter  grief  and 
distress  ;  "  why  should  I  be  deemed  unworthy  of  confi- 
dence, even  by  my  own  mother  ?  Would  I  — ".  But  sobs 
choked  her  utterance. 

"  My  darling,  my  precious  child,  it  is  not  that,  not 
that,"  faltered  the  mother,  clasping  her  in  her  arms  with 
tender  caresses.  "  But  let  us  speak  of  this  no  more,  let 
us  forget  his  sufferings,  as  he  has  forgotten  them  now. 
It  is  what  he  would  have  wished.  Shall  we  not  try, 
daughter  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes,  my  poor,  dear  mother,  I  will  for  your  sake," 
sobbed  the  girl.  "  Ah,  if  Kenneth  were  only  here  ! 
When  will  he  come  ? " 

"  I  do  not  know,"  said  Mrs.  Clendenin,  sighing  slightly. 
"  It  is  now  several  weeks  since  my  letter  went,  but  there 
are  often  delays,  and  it  may  not  have  reached  him  yet. 
I  think  he  would  start  at  once  on  receiving  it,  but  the 


io6  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

journey  is  long  and  tedious  at  the  best,  and  there  may 
be  unlooked-for  detentions  consuming  much  time,  so 
that  we  can  hardly  expect  him  for  many  days  to  come." 

The  letter  she  spoke  of  was  the  same  that  had 
caused  Kenneth's  sudden  departure  from  Chillicothe 
only  the  previous  day.  A  month  later  he  reached  Glen 
Forest. 

Mrs.  Clendenin,  seated  at  the  open  window,  saw  him 
alight  at  the  gate,  and  hastened  out  to  meet  him.  There 
was  a  silent  embrace,  then  an  earnest  scanning  by  each 
of  the  other's  face,  noting  the  changes  wrought  by  time 
and  the  wear  and  tear  of  life. 

Kenneth's  eyes  grew  misty,  for  the  dear  face  before 
him  had  aged  very  much  since  last  he  had  looked  upon 
it,  and  the  dark  hair  had  turned  to  silvery  white. 

She  was  regarding  him  with  wistful  tenderness. 
"  Yes,"  she  said,  answering  his  unspoken  thought  in  a 
half  playful  tone,  yet  smiling  through  gathering  tears, 
"  I  am  growing  old,  and  you,  my  dear  boy,  are  not  quite 
so  young  as  you  were.  Come  in.  Ah,  it  is  good  to  have 
you  here,  at  home  again  !  You  have  heard,  of  course — " 

"  Yes,  since  arriving  in  the  neighborhood,  but  I 
knew  from  your  letter  that  all  would  be  over  long  before 
I  could  reach  you.  It  was  a  sore  trial  to  think  that  even 
the  small  comfort  and  support  of  your  boy's  presence 
must  be  denied  you." 

"  It  was  all  right,"  she  answered  in  low,  sweet  tones. 
"  He  was  with  me  who  has  promised  never  to  leave  nor 
forsake  those  who  trust  in  Him." 

"  I  knew  He  would  be,  and  that  was  my  consolation," 
Kenneth  returned  in  moved  tones. 

Then  glancing  about  as  they  entered  the  house, 
"  Where  is  Marian  ?  "  he  asked. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         107 

The  mother  explained  that  she  had  gone  on  an  errand 
to  a  neighbor's  half  a  mile  away,  and  would  not  probably 
be  back  for  an  hour  or  more. 

Vashti  was  summoned,  bade  her  young  master  wel- 
come with  tears  of  joy,  and  hastened  to  set  refreshments 
before  him. 

But  he  did  them  scant  justice.  His  heart  was  too  full 
of  contending  emotions  to  allow  of  much  appetite,  though 
he  had  not  tasted  food  for  some  hours. 

Gazing  upon  the  loved  face  he  had  not  seen  for  years, 
listening  to  the  well  remembered  tones  of  the  dear  voice 
that  had  been  wont  to  soothe  his  childish  griefs,  to  give 
the  well  earned  meed  of  praise  which  was  the  highly 
prized  reward  of  his  boyish  efforts  to  be  and  do  all  that 
was  good,  noble,  and  manly,  he  forgot  to  eat. 

She  had  much  to  tell  of  all  that  had  occurred  in  the 
family  during  his  absence,  but  her  principal  theme  was 
the  sickness  and  death  of  her  husband. 

Kenneth  listened  with  intense,  sorrowful  interest  to 
her  description  of  that  last  scene,  and  seemed  to  feel  no 
surprise  when  she  told  of  the  joy  and  thankfulness  with 
which  she  had  parted  from  her  heart's  best  treasure. 

He  had  risen  from  the  table  and  drawn  a  chair  to  her 
side.  "  Dear  mother,"  he  said  in  faltering  accents, 
taking  her  hand  in  his,  "  what  a  life  yours  has  been  ! 
What  but  the  grace  of  God  could  have  sustained  you 
through  it  all !  " 

"  Blessed  be  His  holy  name,  it  has  always  been  suffi- 
cient for  me  !  "  she  answered.  "  '  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord 
helped  me,'  and  I  am  persuaded  that  He  will  help  me  to 
the  end." 

A  moment's  silence,  which  Kenneth  was  the  first  to 
break. 


io8  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Tell  me  of  Marian,  mother,"  he  said.  "  She  has 
grown  ?  I  shall  doubtless  find  her  greatly  changed." 

"  More  perhaps  than  you  think  ;  the  dear  child  has 
shot  up  into  a  tall,  graceful,  blooming  girl,  very  sweet 
and  lovable,  in  her  mother's  eyes  at  least,  with  a  beauty 
that  oftentimes  makes  me  tremble  for  her  future. 
Kenneth,  Kenneth,  the  child  will  surely  be  sought  in 
marriage,  and  what  shall  we  do  ? " 

With  the  last  words  her  voice  took  on  a  tone  of  keen 
distress  and  the  eyes  she  lifted  to  his  were  full  of 
anguish. 

"  It  must  not,  must  not  be  !  "  he  answered  hurriedly, 
his  brow  contracting  in  a  spasm  of  pain.  "  Mother, 
keep  her  secluded  here  with  you  ;  let  her  have  no  com- 
munication with  the  other  sex,  old  or  young." 

"  Alas,  I  fear  the  utmost  vigilance  will  not  prevent  it !  " 
she  cried,  heaving  a  deep  drawn  sigh.  "  Oh,  my  darling, 
my  darling,  your  mother's  heart  bleeds  for  you  !  " 

"  Dear  mother,"  he  said,  again  taking  her  hand  and 
speaking  low  and  tremulously,  "  can  you  not  cast  this 
burden  also  upon  the  Lord  ? " 

"  Sometimes,"  she  said  ;  "  ah,  I  should  die  if  I  could 
not !  But,  Kenneth,  what  shall  we  do  ?  Would  it  not  be 
better  to  tell  her  all — to  warn  her  in  time  ?  " 

"  Never !  "  he  cried  with  energy,  "  it  were  too 
fearful  a  risk  ;  it  might  cause  the  very  calamity  we  so 
dread." 

"  Too  true  !  too  true  ! "  she  sighed,  clasping  her  hands 
in  her  lap  and  closing  her  eyes,  while  her  very  lips 
grew  white. 

He  bent  over  her,  taking  her  cold  hands  in  his,  repeat- 
ing low  and  tenderly  the  precious  promise,  " '  When 
thou  passest  through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with  thee  : 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         109 

and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee  : 
when  thou  walkest  through  the  fire,  thou  shalt  not  be 
burned  ;  neither  shall  the  flame  kindle  upon  thee.'  " 

"  Yes,  yes,  sweet  words,  sweet  words  !  "  she  murmured. 
"  Lord,  increase  my  faith  !  But,  Kenneth,"  opening  her 
eyes  and  looking  up  earnestly,  entreatingly,  as  it  seemed, 
into  his  face,  "  you  are  sure,  quite  sure  that  this  is  the 
best,  wisest,  kindest  course  ?  not  risking  a  greater  dan- 
ger than  the  one  avoided  ?  " 

He  answered  her  question  with  another. 

"  If  we  take  the  other  course  shall  we  not  be  running 
into  a  certain  danger  in  the  effort  to  avoid  one  that  may 
never  threaten  us  ?  " 

"  Perhaps.  But  ah,  what  a  hard  choice  we  must  some- 
times make  !  Yet  He  knows  and  will  never  send  one 
unneeded  pang  ;  will  cause  all  things  to  work  together 
for  good  to  them  that  love  Him.  May  He  in  His  tender 
mercy  forgive  my  unbelieving  fears  !  " 

Oh,  how  Kenneth's  heart  yearned  over  her,  as  he  gazed 
into  the  dear,  patient,  sorrowful  face,  how  he  felt  that 
he  would  willingly  give  the  best  years  of  his  life  to  remove 
every  thorn  from  her  path !  And  yet — and  yet,  was  not 
the  Love  which  permitted  them  to  remain,  infinitely  greater 
than  his  ? 

Silence  again  fell  between  them  for  a  short  space. 
Then  looking  tenderly  upon  him  she  asked  : 

"  But  what  of  your  quest,  Kenneth  ?  " 

He  shook  his  head  sorrowfully.  "  Nothing  yet,  abso- 
lutely nothing.  Hopes  raised  now  and  again  but  to  be 
utterly  disappointed." 

"  My  poor  boy,"  she  sighed,  "  yours  is  a  heavy  cross! 
but  if  borne  with  steadfast  patience  your  crown  of  right- 
eousness will  be  all  the  brighter  ;  for  our  light  affliction, 


1 10  THE   THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

which  is  but  for  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far  more 
exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory." 

He  looked  at  her  with  glistening  eyes.  "  Yes,"  he 
said,  with  a  slight  huskiness  in  his  voice,  "  and  even  in 
this  life  it  may  be  lightened." 

"  I  fear  not,"  she  answered  in  gentle,  pitying  tones. 
"  So  many  years  have  now  passed  there  seems  little  hope 
that  she  yet  lives,  and  even  if  she  does,  if  she  should  be 
found,  there  may  be  nothing  gained." 

"  I  know,  I  know,"  he  returned  with  emotion,  and  rising 
to  pace  the  room,  "  and  yet  there  are  times  when  hope  is 
still  strong  within  me." 

At  that  instant  a  slight,  graceful,  girlish  figure  came 
swiftly  into  the  room,  and  with  a  glad  cry,  "  Kenneth, 
Kenneth,  you  have  come  at  last !  "  Marian  threw  her- 
self into  the  manly  arms  joyfully  opened  to  receive  her. 

She  clung  about  his  neck  weeping  from  very  excess  of 
happiness.  "  Oh,  I  have  wanted  you  so  much,  so 
much  !  "  she  cried.  "  I  thought  you  would  never  come  ! 
I  wish  you  would  never  go  away  again." 

He  folded  her  close  to  his  heart  with  tenderest  caresses, 
then  held  her  off  that  he  might  gaze  into  her  blooming 
face,  drinking  in  its  loveliness  with  feelings  of  mingled 
joy  and  anguish. 

It  was  and  yet  was  not  the  little  pet  sister  he  had  left 
when  he  went  away  ;  she  stood  on  the  verge  of  woman- 
hood now,  innocent  and  fair,  with  a  sweet  blending  of 
childish  and  womanly  graces. 

Ah,  must  that  deadly  curse  fall  on  her  ?  He  shuddered 
at  the  thought,  and  almost  groaned  aloud. 

She  saw  the  pain  in  his  face,  and  redoubling  her 
caresses,  "  What  is  it,  Kenneth?"  she  asked  ;  "my  poor 
Kenneth,  you  are  not  happy.  Has  some  one  been  unkind 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  1 1 1 

to  you  ?  Ah,  I  know,"  she  added  quickly,  in  a  lower 
tone,  "  it  is  for  poor,  dear  father  you  are  grieving  ;  but 
you  know  he  is  so,  so  happy  now,  while  here  he  was 
always  sad  and  suffering." 

He  sat  down  and  drew  her  to  the  old  seat  upon  his 
knee.  The  mother  had  left  the  room  and  they  were 
quite  alone  for  the  moment. 

"  How  long  since  you  sat  here  last  !  "  he  said,  "  and 
how  glad  I  am  to  have  you  in  the  old  place  again." 

And  truly  he  was,  yet  peradventure  not  entirely  for  her 
own  sake.  To  hold  this  sweet  young  creature  close,  to 
pet  and  caress  her  to  his  heart's  content,  was  it  not  some 
slight  relief  to  the  longing  desire  to  embrace  that  other 
one  who  was  dearer  still  ? 

Had  his  thoughts  some  magnetic  influence  upon 
Marian's  that  led  her,  the  next  instant,  to  look  up  in  his 
face  and  ask  for  news  of  "  that  pretty  Miss  Lamar  "  ? 

"  What  do  you  know  of  her,  little  one  ? "  he  asked 
gently  smoothing  the  shining  hair,  conscious  of  the  tell- 
tale blood  mounting  to  his  forehead,  but  avoiding  the 
curious  gaze  of  the  soft,  bright  eyes. 

"  I  saw  her  in  church  the  Sunday  before  you  left,  and 
thought  her  very  sweet  and  pretty.  And  do  you  know, 
Kenneth,"  giving  him  a  hug  and  an  arch,  bewitching 
smile,  "  it's  all  my  own  notion  and  I  never  told  anybody 
before,  but  I've  had  a  sort  of  presentiment  that  some  day 
you  would  make  her  my  sister.  Ah,  I've  always  wanted  a 
sister  so  much  !  But  oh,  Kenneth,  I  didn't  mean  to  pain 
you  ! "  she  cried,  noting  the  expression  of  his  face. 
"  Please  forgive  me  and  I'll  never  mention  it  again." 

"  Don't,  darling !  "  he  said  hoarsely.  "  Marriage  is  not 
for  me.  I  can  not  tell  you  why,"  as  he  read  the  question 
in  her  eyes  ;  "but,"  with  a  strange,  forced  smile,  "  I  want 


112  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

my  little  sister  always  to  lay  her  plans  to  devote  herself 
to  the  dear  mother  while  she  lives,  and  if  it  should  please 
God  to  take  her  away  first,  then  to  come  to  be  the  light 
and  joy  of  her  bachelor  brother's  home." 

She  half  withdrew  herself  from  his  arms,  her  features 
working  with  contending  emotions. 

"  What  is  it,  little  sister  ?  Do  you  not  love  me  ?  do 
you  not  want  to  share  my  home  ?  "  he  asked  soothingly. 

"  Yes,  yes,  you  know  I  love  you  ;  you  know  I'll  be  glad 
to  be  always  near  you,"  she  cried,  flinging  her  arms  about 
his  neck  ;  then  hiding  her  face  on  his  breast  in  a  burst  of 
passionate  weeping,  "  But  why  do  you  and  mother  have 
secrets  from  me,  family  secrets,  as  if  I  were  not  worthy 
to  be  trusted  ? " 

"  Ah,  my  little  sister,  be  content  with  your  ignorance  !  " 
he  said  in  moved  tones,  drawing  her  closer  to  him.  "  Can 
you  doubt  that  we  love  you  well  enough  to  tell  you  all  if 
it  would  add  to  your  happiness  ? " 

"  But  I  want  to  know,"  she  sobbed.  "  If  there  is 
trouble  or  sorrow  I  ought  to  bear  my  share.  Do  you 
think  I  could  be  so  selfish  as  not  to  prefer  to  do  it  ? " 

"  No,  dear  sister,  I  believe  you  bear  a  very  unselfish 
love  to  your  mother  and  brother,  and,  therefore,  I  am 
sure  you  will  not  distress  them  by  refusing  to  trust  to 
their  judgment  of  what  is  best  in  regard  to  those  things. 
Believe  me,  the  knowledge  you  crave  could  bring  you 
nothing  but  grief  and  anguish.  It  is  all  it  has  brought 
me.  The  day  may  come  when  you  must  be  told,  but  do 
not  try  to  hasten  it.  I  can  be  here  but  a  short  time  to 
arrange  matters  for  mother  and  you,  and  while  I  stay  let 
us  try  to  be  happy." 

"  Oh  yes,  yes  !  "  she  cried,  clinging  to  him  and  weeping 
afresh.  "  Kenneth,  Kenneth,  why  can't  we  have  you 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         113 

always  ?  I'll  try  to  be  content  not  to  know  anything  ; 
but  just  tell  me  one  thing  :  Why  do  you  search  for  a 
white  woman  among  the  Indians  ?  I've  learned  from 
some  of  your  letters  about  your  long  journeys  in 
the  wilderness,  why  are  you  so  anxious  to  find  her, 
so  grieved  when  you  fail  ?  Surely  I  may  know  that,  may 
I  not?" 

He  considered  a  moment.  "  Yes,"  he  sighed,  "  if  you 
insist  upon  it  I  will  tell  you,  though  I  know  you  will 
regret  having  asked,  for  the  knowledge  can  bring  you 
only  sorrow.  Shall  I  tell  you  ?  " 

She  gave  an  eager  assent  ;  but  at  that  moment  the 
mother  returned  to  the  room,  and  he  whispered  in 
Marian's  ear  that  they  would  defer  it  until  another  time. 

Some  days  later,  a  fitting  opportunity  presenting  itself, 
she  hastened  to  claim  the  fulfilment  of  his  promise  ;  but 
when  he  answered  the  question  she  burst  into  bitter 
weeping,  crying  as  she  clung  about  his  neck,  "  Oh,  Ken- 
neth, Kenneth,  why  did  you  tell  me,  why  did  I  ask  ?  I 
wish  I  had  not !  "  and  he  had  much  ado  to  comfort  her. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  episode  of  the  mad  cat  had  given  a  severer  shock 
to  Nell's  nerves  than  she  was  at  all  aware  of  at  the  time. 
The  joy  and  the  new-born  hope  that  sprang  to  life  within 
her  in  meeting  that  look  of  ineffable  tenderness  in  Ken- 
neth's eyes  buoyed  her  up  at  first,  but  the  news  of  his 
sudden  departure,  leaving  neither  note  nor  message  for 
her,  was  a  heavy  blow,  and  brought  on  the  natural  reac- 
tion from  the  excitement  of  her  struggle  with  the  rabid 
animal. 

For  days  her  prostration  was  so  great  that  she  could 
do  little  but  lie  on  her  bed,  and  when  alone  often 
bemoaned  herself  with  bitter  sighing  and  weeping, 
although  in  Clare's  presence  she  constantly  assumed  a 
cheerfulness  she  was  far  from  feeling,  yet  that  deceived 
even  that  keen-eyed  individual. 

At  length  her  woman's  pride  helped  her  to  rally  her 
failing  energies.  She  rose  from  her  bed  and  went  about 
her  accustomed  duties  and  pleasures  with  a  determined 
will  to  seem  her  old  self  ;  hiding  her  well-nigh  breaking 
heart  behind  a  smiling  countenance. 

She  learned  from  Dale  that  Kenneth's  summons  had 
been  to  the  dying  bed  of  his  father,  and  that  though  he 
could  not  hope  to  traverse  the  intervening  distance  in 
season  to  witness  the  closing  scene,  he  yet  felt  it  imper- 
ative upon  him  to  make  all  haste  to  give  his  widowed 
mother  the  comfort  and  support  of  his  presence  at  the 
earliest  possible  moment. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  115 

"  Ah,  he  had  no  time  to  write  before  leaving  !  "  thought 
Nell  ;  and  hope  whispered  that  he  would  perhaps  do  so 
from  some  station  on  the  way,  or  from  Glen  Forest 
immediately  on  his  arrival  there. 

She  waited  and  watched,  now  hopefully,  now  with 
feverish  longing,  and  anon  in  almost  utter  despair,  as 
weeks  dragged  on  their  weary  round,  bringing  no  word 
from  him,  no  evidence  that  she  was  not  completely  for- 
gotten. 

She  grew  absent-minded,  and  would  catch  herself 
sitting  in  listless  attitude,  silent  and  abstracted,  while 
others  chatted  and  laughed  gaily  at  her  side  ;  or  moving 
about  with  a  languor  that  attracted  Clare's  attention,  and 
brought  upon  her  vexatious  questions  and  remarks. 

"  What  was  the  matter  ?  She  was  certainly  not  well, 
for  it  was  not  like  her  to  be  so  dull.  She  was  losing  her 
appetite  too.  She  should  take  more  out-door  exercise. 
Why  did  she  stay  in  the  house  so  constantly  of  late  ? 
Where  would  she  like  to  go  ?  What  was  there  that  she 
could  eat  ?  Really  she  must  try  to  keep  up,  if  only  till 
Dr.  Clendenin  returned,  for  he  was  the  only  physician 
in  the  place  in  whom  the  major  felt  any  confidence." 

Nell  answered,  not  always  in  the  most  amiable  of  tones, 
that  she  was  perfectly  well  and  did  not  know  why  people 
should  persist  in  believing  otherwise.  She  was  in  no 
haste  for  Dr.  Clendenin's  return,  and  hoped  he  would 
stay  six  months  or  a  year  if  he  felt  inclined  to  do  so. 

Still,  spite  of  her  protestations,  she  continued  to  grow 
pale  and  thin,  ate  less  and  less,  and  at  last  was  forced  to 
take  to  her  bed  with  a  low,  nervous  fever. 

It  was  now  far  on  in  October,  but  Kenneth  had  not 
returned,  and  Dr.  Buell  was  called  in  by  the  major,  much 
against  the  patient's  will. 


Il6  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  I  don't  want  him  or  his  medicines,"  she  said.  "  I'm 
not  sick." 

"  Why,  what  nonsense  !  "  said  Clare  ;  "  why  do  you  lie 
here  if  you  are  not  ill  ?  " 

"  Because  I'm  tired,  tired  !  "  sighed  the  girl,  turning 
away  her  head.  "  I  only  need  rest,  and  all  I  want  is  to 
be  let  alone." 

"  The  fact  is,  you  don't  know  what  ails  you  or  what  you 
need  ;  and  you're  not  going  to  be  let  alone,"  remarked 
Clare,  with  the  assumption  of  authority  always  so  dis- 
tasteful to  her  young  sister-in-law. 

The  words,  but  especially  the  tone,  brought  the  color 
to  Nell's  cheeks  and  an  indignant  light  into  her  eyes. 

She  opened  her  lips  to  reply,  but  Clare  had  already  left 
the  room,  and  the  next  moment  re-entered  it,  bringing 
Dr.  Buell  with  her. 

His  remedies  had  no  good  effect.  Nell  drooped  more 
and  more.  Major  Lamar  became  extremely  anxious 
and  uneasy. 

"  I  wish,"  he  said  to  his  wife  again  and  again,  "  that 
Clendenin  would  come  home.  It  is  very  unfortunate 
that  he  should  be  absent  just  now." 

"  Doesn't  any  body  hear  from  him  ?  "  she  asked,  hear- 
ing the  remark  for  perhaps  the  fiftieth  time. 

"  I  don't  know.  I'll  go  and  ask  Dale,"  he  answered, 
taking  up  his  hat  and  hurrying  from  the  house. 

He  had  not  gone  a  hundred  yards  when  he  espied — 
welcome  sight ! — Kenneth  himself  walking  briskly  toward 
him. 

They  met  with  a  hearty  hand-shaking  and  words  of 
cordial  greeting. 

"  Come  at  last,"  said  the  major,  "  and  just  when  you 
are  sorely  needed.  I  believe  in  my  heart  Nell's  in  a 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         117 

dangerous  condition,  and  Buell's  doing  her  no  good.  I 
must  take  you  home  with  me  at  once." 

"  But—" 

"  No  but  about  it,"  interrupted  the  major  bluntly.  "  He 
was  called  in  with  the  distinct  understanding  that  the 
moment  you  returned  the  case  would  be  put  into  your 
hands,  you  being  the  family  physician." 

Kenneth  made  no  further  objection,  but  went  with  his 
friend,  asking  a  few  hurried  questions  by  the  way  in 
regard  to  the  nature  of  the  malady  and  the  length  of 
time  that  had  elapsed  since  the  patient's  seizure. 

Nell,  lying  alone  on  her  bed,  heard  the  well-known  step 
and  voice  in  the  outer  room.  What  a  thrill  the  sounds 
sent  through  her  whole  frame,  making  every  nerve  tingle 
with  excitement ! 

She  half  started  up,  flushing  and  trembling,  then  as 
step  and  voice  drew  nearer,  fell  back  again,  closed  her 
eyes  and  hid  her  face  in  the  bed  clothes. 

"  Nell,  are  you  ready  to  see  the  doctor  ?  "  asked  Clare's 
voice  at  the  door. 

"  No,  nor  ever  shall  be.  I  should  think  that  you  and 
Percy  might  be  convinced  by  this  time  that  his  visits  are 
doing  me  no  good,"  answered  the  girl,  in  a  tone  of 
irritation. 

"  But  it's  Dr.  Clendenin  this  time,  Nell,"  said  Clare, 
stepping  aside  and  motioning  him  to  enter. 

Nell  lay  perfectly  still  and  kept  her  eyes  shut,  resolved 
to  appear  utterly  indifferent  to  his  presence  ;  but  hers  was 
a  tell-tale  face  to  him  ;  he  saw  that  the  indifference  was 
only  assumed,  yet  failed  to  fully  understand  it. 

"  I  grieve  to  find  you  so  ill,"  he  said,  bending  over  her, 
and  speaking  in  the  tone  of  extreme  gentleness  and  com- 
passion that  ever  touched  her  heart  to  its  inmost  core. 


Il8  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

She  resented  it,  she  did  not  want  to  have  any  kindly 
feeling  toward  him  ;  she  was  determined  she  would  not, 
so  averting  her  face,  answered,  almost  rudely,  that  she 
was  not  very  ill,  and  would  do  well  enough  if  she  could 
only  be  left  alone  ;  then  unable  through  weakness  to  main- 
tain her  self-control,  burst  into  a  fit  of  hysterical  weeping. 

"  You  see  she's  dreadfully  nervous,  doctor,"  remarked 
Clare,  a  little  maliciously,  for  she  knew  that  Nell  could 
not  endure  the  imputation. 

"  Tears  will  bring  some  relief  ;  I  will  be  in  again  in 
the  course  of  an  hour,"  said  Kenneth,  and  was  gone 
almost  before  he  had  finished  his  sentence. 

When  he  came  again  he  found  his  patient  more  com- 
posed, but  the  pale,  sunken  cheeks,  and  the  great,  hollow 
eyes  filled  him  with  remorse  and  anxiety  ;  he  could 
scarcely  command  his  voice  for  a  moment. 

"  Excuse  my  rudeness,  doctor,"  she  said,  holding  out 
a  thin  white  hand.  "  I  believe  I'm  just  sick  enough  to 
be  very  cross." 

She  had  resolved  not  to  look  at  him,  but,  as  she  spoke, 
involuntarily  raised  her  eyes  to  his  and  read  there  such 
yearning  affection,  such  tender  compassion  as  caused 
her  to  drop  them  instantly,  while  the  hot  blood  dyed 
cheek  and  brow,  but  only  to  vanish  again,  leaving  them 
paler  than  before. 

And  he  ?  A  wild  impulse,  scarcely  to  be  restrained, 
seized  him  to  catch  her  in  his  arms,  fold  her  to  his  heart, 
and  pour  out  the  story  of  his  love. 

The  desire  was  so  overpowering  that  it  may  be  he 
would  have  yielded  to  it  had  not  the  major's  entrance  at 
that  instant  prevented. 

But  Nell  had  read  the  look,  and  the  sweet  story  it  told 
was  as  a  cordial  to  her  fainting  spirit. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        lig 

She  rallied  from  that  moment,  the  next  day  he  found 
her  sitting  up,  and  in  a  week  she  was  able  to  drive  out. 

After  that  his  visits,  which  had  been  but  few  and  brief 
from  the  first,  were  rarer  and  shorter  still,  and  soon  they 
ceased  entirely. 

She  seldom  saw  him  now,  except  at  church  or  on  the 
street,  when  they  would  exchange  a  passing  bow  and 
smile,  and  yet  he  had  not  told  the  story  of  his  love,  save 
with  his  eloquent  eyes. 

But  she  blamed  herself  for  that  ;  for  with  the  strange 
inconsistency  of  human  nature,  she  had  shrunk  from 
being  left  alone  with  him,  studiously  avoiding  giving  him 
an  opportunity  to  speak  the  words  for  which  her  very 
soul  was  hungering  and  thirsting. 

During  all  this  time  Wawillaway  had  been  a  frequent 
visitor  at  the  house  of  Major  Lamar,  coming  often  to 
Chillicothe  with  baskets  of  his  own  weaving  for  sale,  and 
never  failing  to  call  upon  these  friends  who  had  made 
much  of  him  ever  since  his  signal  service  to  Nell. 

When  he  remained  over  night  in  the  town  it  was 
usually  as  their  guest,  sleeping  on  the  kitchen  floor, 
wrapped  in  his  blanket,  and  with  his  feet  to  the  fire. 

He  was  an  especial  favorite  with  Nell,  and  the  liking 
was  mutual,  he  having  a  great  admiration  for  the  "  white 
squaw  "  whom  he  had  saved  from  the  panther's  teeth  and 
claws,  while  she  felt  that  she  owed  him  a  debt  of  lasting 
gratitude  ;  a  debt  that  was  doubled  by  an  occurrence 
that  took  place  some  months  subsequent  to  her  recovery 
from  her  late  illness. 

Mounting  Fairy  one  bright  spring  morning,  she  sallied 
forth  with  the  intention  of  paying  a  visit  to  her  friend 
Mrs.  Nash. 

Wild  animals  were  now  seldom  seen  in  the  vicinity  of 


120  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST, 

the  town,  and  she  felt  secure  in  taking  a  short  ride  with- 
out escort ;  but  on  the  way  found  herself  confronted  by 
danger  of  another  kind  which  she  had  not  taken  into 
account. 

She  was  passing  through  a  bit  of  woods,  when  a  man 
suddenly  sprang  from  behind  a  tree,  seized  her  bridle, 
bringing  her  pony  to  an  abrupt  halt  that  had  nearly 
thrown  her  from  the  saddle,  and  with  a  lecherous, 
impudent  stare  into  her  face,  and  a  demoniacal  grin,  said  : 

"  I'm  powerful  glad  of  this  meetin'  ;  ben  a  wantin'  to 
scrape  acquaintance  this  long  while  ;  fur  you're  a  mighty 
purty  gal." 

Nell's  cheek  blanched  and  an  involuntary  shiver  of 
fear  crept  over  her. 

The  man  was  a  tall,  broad  shouldered,  powerfully 
built  fellow,  of  the  border  ruffian  class,  whom  she  had 
seen  about  the  streets  and  in  the  stores  of  the  town  a 
number  of  times  in  the  last  few  months. 

She  knew  little  of  him  except  his  name,  which  seemed 
to  her  strangely  appropriate,  such  was  the  ferocious  and 
animal  expression  of  his  bronzed  and  bearded  face. 

She  had  felt  instinctive  loathing  of  the  man  from  the 
first  casual  glance  at  him,  had  seen  his  evil  eyes  more 
than  once  following  her  furtively  with  a  look  that  filled 
her  with  a  nameless  terror;  and  it  may  well  be  imagined 
that  she  was  now  filled  with  affright  at  this  unexpected 
encounter  in  the  lonely  wood. 

A  conciliatory  course  seemed  wisest,  and  with  a  heroic 
effort  to  hide  her  alarm,  she  addressed  him  politely. 

"  I  am  in  haste,  Mr.  Wolf  ;  please  be  good  enough  not 
to  detain  me." 

"  Not  yet,  my  beauty,  can't  let  you  go  just  yet ;  we'll 
have  a  little  chat  first.  Come,  I'll  help  you  to  'light,  and 


THE   THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  121 

we'll  go  and  sit  together  a  spell  on  that  log  yonder,"  he 
said,  taking  hold  of  her  left  arm. 

"  Unhand  me  !  how  dare  you  ? "  she  cried,  her  cheeks 
crimson,  her  eyes  flashing  with  indignation,  and  bringing 
her  riding  whip  down  on  his  hand  with  all  the  force  she 
could  muster. 

The  stinging  blow  made  him  release  her  for  an  in- 
stant, but  he  kept  his  hold  on  the  bridle,  and  an  attempt 
on  her  part  to  urge  her  pony  forward  only  made  the 
creature  rear  and  plunge  in  a  dangerous  manner. 

"  No,  you  don't !  "  cried  the  ruffian  with  a  derisive 
laugh  ;  and  uttering  a  fearful  oath,  he  threw  his  arm 
about  her  waist  and  had  nearly  lifted  her  from  the  saddle. 

"  Help  !  help  !  "  she  shrieked  wildly  till  the  woods  rang 
again  with  the  sound,  and  striking  madly  at  him  with  the 
whip. 

She  was  answered  instantly  by  the  Indian  warwhoop 
close  at  hand,  and  half  a  dozen  savages,  armed  with 
rifles  and  tomahawks,  sprang  out  from  the  wood,  not  a 
hundred  yards  away. 

Wolf,  having  left  his  gun  leaning  up  against  a  tree  at 
some  little  distance,  was  unarmed  except  the  hunting 
knife  in  his  belt,  and  seeing  himself  about  to  be  over- 
powered by  numbers,  fled  with  the  utmost  precipitation, 
plunging  into  the  forest  and  instantly  disappearing  in  its 
depths. 

Nell,  not  knowing  whether  to  look  upon  the  red  men 
as  friends  or  foes,  felt  her  heart  leap  into  her  mouth, 
expecting  to  be  tomahawked  and  scalped  on  the  spot  ; 
but  the  next  moment,  recognizing  in  the  foremost  warrior 
her  friend  Wawillaway,  she  uttered  a  cry  of  joy. 

"  Very  bad  white  man,"  he  said  coming  up  to  her, 
"  want  killee  you." 


122  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  No,  I  hope  not,"  she  said  carefully  steadying  her 
voice,  "  but  I  am  so  glad,  so  glad  you  came  and  drove 
him  away,  Wawillaway.  Oh,  you  have  done  me  a  greater 
service  to-day  than  even  the  killing  of  the  panther  !  " 
she  added  with  an  irrepressible  shudder. 

It  was  long  before  Nell  ventured  again  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  town  without  a  protector  ;  but  fearing  Wolf's 
vengeance  upon  her  brother,  should  he  bring  the  ruffian 
to  punishment,  as  he  undoubtedly  would  should  he  hear 
of  this  day's  peril  to  her,  she  carefully  concealed  the 
occurrence,  exacting  a  promise  from  her  Indian  friend 
to  do  the  same. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

AT  about  the  same  time  that  Nell  Lamar  met  with  her 
adventure  with  Wolf,  important  events  were  transpiring 
at  Glen  Forest. 

Mrs.  Clendenin  was  summoned  away  to  a  distance 
from  home  by  the  serious  illness  of  a  sister  of  her  late 
husband.  Ignorant  of  the  precise  nature  of  the  disease, 
she  was  unwilling  to  expose  Marian  to  it,  and  though 
almost  equally  reluctant  to  leave  her  behind,  decided 
upon  that  as  the  safer  course. 

So  with  much  tender,  motherly  counsel  bestowed  upon 
this  child  of  her  love,  and  many  an  injunction  to  Vashti 
to  watch  over  her  darling,  she  took  her  departure. 

The  young  girl  felt  inexpressibly  lonely  without  the 
mother  who  had  been  to  her  friend,  teacher  and  almost 
sole  companion,  everything  in  one,  for  they  had  led  a 
very  secluded  life,  paying  and  receiving  few  visits  ;  in- 
deed, seldom  going  anywhere  but  to  church,  except  that 
Marian  took  many  a  ramble  and  many  a  ride  on  her 
pony  through  the  adjacent  woods  and  over  the  nearer 
hills,  usually  unaccompanied  save  by  Caius,  a  huge  mas- 
tiff who  had  hitherto  proved  a  most  efficient  protector. 

Mrs.  Clendenin  had  indeed  never  been  neglectful  of 
the  Christian  duty  of  ministering  to  the  sick  and  suffer- 
ing so  far  as  lay  in  her  power,  and  Marian  was  in  this 
regard  following  in  her  mother's  footsteps. 

A  mile  away  over  the  eastern  hills  lived  two   elderly 


124  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

maiden  ladies,  Esther  and  Janet  Burns,  the  one  a  para- 
lytic, the  other  feeble  and  nearly  blind  from  cataract. 

They  had  a  farm,  the  rent  of  which  yielded  them  a  sup- 
port, but  their  lives  were  lonely,  and  Marian's  visits  were 
a  great  boon. 

She  had  fallen  into  the  habit  of  going  over  almost 
daily  to  Woodland,  as  their  place  was  called,  and  spend- 
ing an  hour  in  reading  to  them  from  the  works  of  one  or 
another  of  her  favorite  authors. 

The  Clendenins  had  been  for  generations  great  lovers 

.of  books,  and  the  library  at  Glen  Forest,  though   what 

would  be  considered  small  and  of  little  value  in  these 

days,  was  large  and  select  compared  with  those  of  their 

neighbors. 

Marian  continued  her  visits  to  Woodland  after  her 
mother  had  gone,  and,  because  she  found  it  so  much  less 
lonely  there  than  at  home,  sometimes  lingered  half  the 
day,  to  the  great  content  of  the  Misses  Burns. 

They  would  gladly  have  induced  her  to  take  up  her 
abode  with  them  during  her  mother's  absence,  but  to  that 
she  would  by  no  means  consent;  home  was  home  after  all, 
and  though  it  might  be  pleasant  to  spend  a  part  of  the 
day  elsewhere,  when  night  came  she  wanted  to  be  in  her 
own  familiar  room,  with  old  Vashti  within  call. 

On  Sunday  Marian  always  attended  service  in  the  little 
country  church  spoken  of  in  a  former  chapter. 

The  neighborhood  was  a  very  quiet  one,  few  coming 
or  going,  the  same  faces  showing  themselves  in  the 
sanctuary  Sunday  after  Sunday,  and  the  sight  of  a  new 
one  was  always  a  source  of  no  little  interest ;  it  may 
therefore  be  supposed  that  the  advent  among  them,  a 
week  after  Mrs.  Clendenin  set  out  on  her  journey,  of  a 
fine  looking  young  man,  a  total  stranger,  well  dressed, 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         125 

and  of  serious  and  gentlemanly  deportment,  created 
some  little  stir  and  excitement ;  especially  among  the 
younger  portion  of  the  congregation. 

He  sat  in  the  pew  of  Mr.  George  Grimes,  who  kept 
the  nearest  inn,  the  sign  of  the  Stag  and  Hounds,  and 
the  services  had  not  been  over  many  minutes  before 
every  one  knew  that  he  had  engaged  board  there  for  a 
month,  and  that  he  was  an  Englishman,  apparently 
wealthy,  having  brought  a  valet  with  him. 

The  congregation  had  passed  out  into  the  church- 
yard, and  a  subdued  hum  of  voices  exchanging  neigh- 
borly greetings  and  inquiries  after  each  other's  health", 
mingled  pleasantly  with  the  twittering  of  birds,  the  sigh- 
ing of  the  wind  through  the  forest,  and  the  low  murmur 
of  the  stream  on  the  farther  side  of  the  road. 

The  stranger  stood  aside,  looking  on  and  listening 
with  a  well  bred  air  of  kindly  interest. 

"  Who  is  that,  Grimes  ? "  he  asked,  his  eye  following 
admiringly  a  graceful  girlish  figure  as  it  tripped  past 
them  down  the  path  that  led  out  to  the  road  where  the 
horses  were  tied,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  one  of  the 
young  men,  who  stepped  eagerly  forward  to  give  it, 
sprang  lightly  into  the  saddle. 

"  Miss  Marian  Clendenin,  of  Glen  Forest,  Mr.  Lyttle- 
ton  :  one  of  the  prettiest  young  ladies  in  the  county,  if 
I'm  a  judge  o'  beauty,"  replied  Grimes,  lifting  his  hat  to 
the  fair  girl. 

"  She  sits  her  horse  well,"  remarked  the  stranger,  still 
following  her  with  his  eyes  as  she  cantered  away  in  the 
direction  of  her  home,  Caius  bounding  nimbly  on  by  the 
pony's  side.  "  But  she  seems  quite  alone,  is  there  no 
more  of  the  family  ?  " 

"  Most  of  'em  lie  yonder,"  replied  Grimes,  pointing  to  a 


126  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

row  of  graves  not  far  from  the  spot  where  they  stood. 
"  Children  all  died  young  but  this  girl  and  an  older 
brother  who  went  West  years  ago.  Father  died  within 
the  last  year,  and  the  mother's  away  nursing  a  sick  sister, 
I  hear."" 

Lyttleton  seemed  interested,  asked  several  more 
questions,  walked  over  to  the  graves  and  carefully  read  the 
inscriptions  on  the  tombstones  ;  Grimes  standing  by  his 
side  and  going  on  with  much  garrulity  to  tell  all  he  knew 
or  had  ever  heard  of  the  family,  and  that  was  not  a 
little,  for  he  was  a  great  gatherer  and  retailer  of  news, 
for  which  few  had  better  opportunities. 

He  spoke  of  the  late  Mr.  Clendenin  as  a  man  of 
singularly  secluded  habits,  upright  and  honest  in  all  his 
dealings,  but  strangely  averse  to  the  society  of  his  kind. 

"  And  I  suppose,"  he  added,  "  that's  what  has  kept  his 
wife  and  daughter  pretty  much  shut  up  at  home : 
at  any  rate  the  girl's  never  seen  at  a  corn- 
husking  or  quilting,  or  any  sort  o'  merry  making,  and 
the  young  fellows  never  get  a  chance  to  wait  on  her. 
About  the  only  place  she  does  go  to  is  Woodland,  to 
read  to  those  poor  sickly  old  ladies  ;  but  she's  there 
every  day  I'm  told." 

"  She  is  then  of  a  literary  turn,  this  young  heroine  of 
yours?  "  sneered  the  stranger  interrogatively. 

"  That's  just  what  she  is,  sir,  so  I've  heard  on  good 
authority,  they're  a  bookish  family."  And  as  they  rode 
homeward  Grimes  went  on  to  expatiate  at  length  upon 
Marian's  reputed  literary  tastes  and  acquirements. 

"  You  are  a  good  trumpeter,"  remarked  Lyttleton. 
"  Pray  tell  me,  are  the  Clendenins  wealthy  ?  " 

"  Glen  Forest's  a  valuable  place,  and  there's  only  the 
two  of  them,  as  I  told  you,  after  the  mother  dies." 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  l2^ 

"  And  the  son  doesn't  get  it  all,  as  is  usually  the  way 
with  us  ? " 

"  No  :  and  I  dare  say  there's  money  laid  by,  too." 

The  next  afternoon  Marian,  reading  to  her  friends  in 
the  wide,  cool  porch  that  ran  along  the  front  of  the 
house  at  Woodland,  saw  a  horseman  coming  leisurely 
along  the  road,  as,  looking  up  from  her  book,  she  sent  a 
casual  glance  in  that  direction. 

"  It  is  the  English  gentleman,"  she  said  in  a  low  tone, 
as  he  drew  rein  at  the  gate. 

It  was  long  since  either  Esther  or  Janet  Burns  had 
been  able  to  go  to  church,  and  Monday's  visit  from 
Marian  was  anticipated  with  even  more  than  ordinary 
eagerness  because  of  the  detailed  account  she  would 
bring  of  all  she  had  seen  and  heard  the  previous  day. 
Of  course  she  had  not,  on  this  occasion,  omitted  to 
mention  the  stranger  in  Grimes's  pew. 

"  Where,  my  dear  ?  "  asked  purblind  Janet,  straining 
her  eyes  in  a  vain  effort  to  see  him.  "  Is  he  riding  ?  I 
surely  heard  horse's  hoofs." 

"  Yes,  and  he  is  alighting  at  the  gate,"  said  her  sister. 
"  What  can  he  want  here  ?  Marian,  child,  will  you  call 
Kitty  to  see  what  he  wishes  ?  " 

"  I'se  here,  missus,"  the  girl  answered  for  herself, 
coming  round  the  corner  of  the  house.  "  What  do  you 
want,  sah  ? "  hurrying  down  the  path  to  meet  the 
approaching  stranger. 

"  I  am  very  thirsty  and  would  be  thankful  for  a  glass 
of  milk  or  cold  water,  my  good  woman,"  he  answered, 
lifting  his  hat  to  the  ladies. 

At  that  Miss  Janet  stepped  forward  and  hos- 
pitably invited  him  to  come  in  and  rest  himself  for 
a  little,  remarking  that  the  day  was  very  sultry  and 


128  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

he  must  have  found  the  heat  of  the  sun  very  oppres- 
sive. 

"  I  have  indeed,  madame,"  he  said,  accepting  the 
offered  kindness  with  alacrity,  and  stealing  a  glance  of 
mingled  curiosity  and  admiration  at  the  fresh,  blooming 
face  of  the  young  girl  guest.  "  I  think  the  sun  shines 
with  a  fiercer  heat  here  than  in  Europe,  and  if  I  do  not 
intrude  shall  be  very  glad  to  rest  in  this  shady  nook 
until  he  approaches  somewhat  nearer  his  setting." 

Both  the  sisters  assured*  him  he  was  welcome,  and 
Kitty  was  directed  to  bring  a  glass  of  morning's  milk 
and  some  home-made  cake  for  his  refreshment. 

The  Misses  Burns  were  good,  simple-minded,  unsus- 
picious women,  Lyttleton  an  accomplished  man  of  the 
world,  thoroughly  unscrupulous  and  selfish,  but  able, 
when  it  suited  his  purpose,  as  it  did  on  this  occasion,  to 
conceal  his  true  character  by  polished  manners  and  a 
most  pleasing  and  insinuating  address. 

He  was  a  fluent  talker  and  knew  how  to  adapt  his  con- 
versation to  those  with  whom  he  was  thrown,  in  what- 
ever station  in  life. 

He  addressed  the  older  ladies  almost  exclusively,  but . 
his  eyes  continually  sought  Marian's  face,  which  glowed 
with  interest  and  intelligence. 

He  stayed  for  more  than  an  hour,  and  made  himself 
so  entertaining  that  they  were  sorry  to  see  him  go,  and 
gave  him  a  pressing  invitation  to  come  again,  which  he 
readily  promised  to  do. 

With  thanks  for  their  hospitality  and  a  courteous 
adieu,  he  at  last  took  his  departure. 

"  A  very  fine-looking,  intelligent  and  well-bred  gentle- 
man," remarked  Miss  Esther,  as  man  and  horse  disap- 
peared down  the  road. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        129 

"  He  has  evidently  been  accustomed  to  good  society," 
added  her  sister,  "  has  travelled  a  great  deal  and  knows 
how  to  describe  what  he  has  seen  ;  but  while  he  talked 
to  us,  his  eyes  sought  Marian's  face  for  the  most  part." 

"  Surely  that  was  but  natural,  seeing  how  much 
younger  and  fairer  than  ours  it  is,"  Miss  Esther  said, 
with  a  pleased  smile  and  an  affectionate,  admiring 
glance  at  the  now  blushing  maiden.  "  I  am  sure  she  makes 
a  pretty  picture  sitting  there  under  the  drooping  vines, 
with  Caius  crouching  at  her  feet." 

"  How  did  you  like  him  Marian,  dear  ?  "  asked  Miss 
Janet ;  "  my  dim  eyes  cannot  judge  whether  he  is  as 
comely  as  Esther  says." 

"  I  do  not  think  him  quite  so  handsome  as  Kenneth," 
Marian  answered  with  some  hesitation,  "  he  doesn't  look 
so  good  and  noble  and  true.  "  But,"  she  added  quickly, 
the  color  deepening  on  her  cheek,  "  I  do  not  know  him 
well  enough  yet  to  judge  of  his  character,  and  he  talks 
very  well.  Now  shall  we  go  on  with  our  reading  ?  I  can 
only  stay  to  finish  the  chapter,  for  you  see  the  sun  is 
getting  low." 

Lyttleton,  as  he  rode  briskly  on  toward  his  temporary 
home,  was  saying  to  himself,  with  an  evil  smile,  "  A 
pretty  girl,  very  young,  hardly  sixteen  I  should  say,  and 
as  innocent  as  a  child  ;  I  flatter  myself  'twill  be  no  diffi- 
cult task  to  win  her  confidence  and  learn  all  she  knows. 
How  much  that  may  be  I  have  yet  to  discover." 

Determined  to  make  diligent  use  of  his  opportunities, 
he  became  from  that  time  a  daily  visitor  at  Woodland, 
and  so  conducted  himself  as  to  win  the  entire  confidence 
of  all  three  ladies,  and  cause  them  to  look  upon  his  visits 
as  a  great  treat. 

He  had  travelled  much  and  had  many  adventures  to 


130  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

relate,  and  stores  of  information  to  impart  in  regard  to 
the  strange  lands  he  had  seen.  He  had  spent  some 
weeks  in  Paris  during  the  late  Revolution,  had  witnessed 
the  execution  of  Marie  Antoinette  and  of  many  of  the 
nobility,  and  had  had  some  narrow  escapes  of  his  own  ; 
all  of  which  he  described  to  his  little  audience  with  thrill- 
ing effect. 

Often,  too,  he  brought  a  book  in  his  pocket,  usually 
Shakespeare's  works,  Milton's  Paradise  Lost,  or  some 
other  poem,  from  which  he  would  read  passages  in 
a  rich,  mellow  voice  so  exquisitely  modulated  that  it 
seemed  to  double  the  beauty  of  the  author's  words. 

Marian's  soul  was  full  of  poetry,  and  she  would  listen 
like  one  enchanted,  her  eyes  shining,  her  lips  slightly 
.apart,  her  breathing  almost  suspended  lest  she  should 
lose  a  single  word  or  tone. 

Lyttleton,  without  seeming  to  do  so,  noted  it  all  with 
secret  delight. 

After  a  little  he  fell  into  the  habit  of  accompanying 
her  on  her  homeward  ride  or  walk,  whichever  it  might 
be,  and  of  meeting  her  in  her  rambles,  thus  gradually 
placing  himself  on  a  footing  of  intimacy. 

And  Marian  had  forgotten  her  first  intuitive  percep- 
tion of  his  character  ;  his  charms  of  person  and  manner 
had  come  to  exert  a  strange  fascination  over  her ;  she 
thought  of  neither  the  past  nor  the  future  when  he  was 
by  her  side,  but  lived  only  in  the  blissful  present,  while 
he  saw  and  exulted  in  his  power. 

He  made  no  open  declaration  of  love,  but  when  they 
were  alone  in  the  silent  woods  it  breathed  in  every  look 
and  tone,  filling  the  innocent  girlish  heart  with  a  strange, 
exquisite,  tremulous  happiness. 

Caius,  always  by  her  side,  or  crouching  at  her  feet, 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  131 

was  the  sole  witness  of  these  interviews,  and  Marian 
could  not  bring  herself  to  speak  of  them  even  to  her  two 
old  friends,  who,  in  their  guilelessness,  had  no  thought  of 
harm  to  her  from  the  daily  intercourse  of  which  they  were 
cognizant. 

Sometimes  Lyttleton  drew  her  on  to  talk  of  herself, 
her  home,  her  absent  brother,  and  asked  many  questions 
in  regard  to  him,  which  Marian  answered  readily  because 
it  was  a  pleasure  to  speak  of  Kenneth. 

She  was  eager  in  his  praise,  she  would  have  delighted 
to  show  him  to  her  new  friend. 

"  You  and  he  were  both  born  at  Glen  Forest  ? " 
Lyttleton  one  day  remarked,  inquiringly. 

"  No  ;  only  I,"  Marian  said,  a  slightly  troubled  look 
coming  into  her  eyes  ;  "  I  and  the  brothers  and  sisters 
who  died  very  young.  Kenneth  is  many  years  older, 
and  it  was  when  he  was  a  babe  that  my  parents  came 
here  to  live." 

"  Ah  ?  and  where  did  they  live  before  that  ?  where 
was  Kenneth  born  ? " 

"  Somewhere  in  eastern  Tennessee  ;  I  cannot  tell  you 
exactly,  for  there  was  no  town,  no  settlement,  just  my 
father's  cabin  in  a  little  clearing  he  had  made  in  the 
forest,  and  another,  a  neighbor's,  half  a  mile  away." 

Marian  spoke  hastily,  with  half-averted  face  and  a  per- 
ceptible shudder. 

"Why that  shudder,  my  sweet  girl  ?"  he  asked,  gently 
pressing  her  hand,  which  he  had  taken  in  his. 

"  I  was  thinking  of  the  terrible  occurrence  that  led  my 
father  and  mother  to  abandon  the  spot,"  she  said  in  low, 
tremulous  tones  ;  "  an  attack  by  the  Indians  in  which 
several  were  killed.  It  is  scarcely  ever  alluded  to  in  the 
family  and  I  never  heard  the  full  particulars." 


132  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Then  we  will  speak  no  more  of  it,"  he  said,  and 
began  to  talk  of  other  things. 

Some  days  later  they  were  again  alone  together  ;  they 
had  been  climbing  the  hills  till  quite  weary,  and  were 
now  resting,  seated  side  by  side  upon  a  fallen  tree, 
within  sight  of  Glen  Forest,  the  pretty  mountain  stream 
that  flowed  past  it  singing  and  dancing  almost  at  their 
very  feet. 

Marian  had  her  lap  full  of  wild  flowers  which  she  was 
arranging  in  a  bouquet,  Lyttleton  watching  her  with  a 
curious  smile  on  his  lips,  glancing  now  at  the  deft-fingers, 
now  at  the  glowing  cheeks. 

She  looked  very  pretty,  very  sweet  and  innocent ;  she 
had  thrown  off  her  hat  and  the  dark  brown  curls  fell  in 
rich  masses  over  neck  and  shoulders. 

Caius,  upon  her  other  side,  seemed  to  be  keeping 
jealous  watch  over  her,  regarding  Lyttleton  with  some- 
thing of  a  distrust  she  did  not  share  ;  she  had  perhaps 
never  been  so  happy  before  in  all  her  short  life. 

Neither  had  spoken  for  several  minutes,  when  Lyt- 
tleton, leaning  over,  said  softly,  "  Do  you  know,  pretty 
one,  that  I  leave  you  to-day  ?  " 

Marian  dropped  her  flowers  and  looked  up  with  a  start, 
her  cheek  paling,  and  her  eyes  filling  with  tears. 

"  Shall  you  be  sorry  to  see  me  go  ? "  he  asked  tenderly, 
taking  her  hand  and  pressing  it  to  his  lips. 

Her  eyes  fell,  her  lip  quivered,  one  bright  drop  rolled 
quickly  down  her  cheek.  It  was  a  rude  awaking  from 
her  blissful  dream. 

"  Oh,  why  did  you  come  at  all,"  she  sobbed,  "  if  you 
must  go  away  again  ?  and  so  soon  !  " 

She  did  not  see  his  exultant  smile. 

"  Why  you  know  I  must  go,"  he  said,  "  since  my  home 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         133 

is  not  here  ;  but  I  am  very  glad  I  came,  as  otherwise  I 
should  never  have  known  you,  my  pretty  darling,  the 
very  sweetest,  the  dearest  little  girl  I  ever  saw  ;"  he  bent 
fondly  over  her  and  touched  his  lips  to  her  forehead. 

But  she  shrank  from  the  caress,  her  cheek  crimsoning. 

"No,  no;  you  must  not  do  that.  I  —  I  cannot 
allow  it." 

"  But  why  not  ?  Why  should  we  not  be  kind  and 
affectionate  to  each  other  ?  Ah,  don't  move  away  from 
me,  don't  avert  your  sweet  face,  or  I  shall  think  you 
quite  hate  me,  and  I  am  going  away  to-day." 

She  covered  her  face  with  her  hands  to  hide  the  tears 
that  would  come,  and  struggled  with  the  sobs  that  were 
half  choking  her. 

All  the  brightness  seemed  to  have  suddenly  gone 
out  of  her  life.  "  Why  had  she  let  herself  care  for  him 
when  he  was  going  away  and  would  never,  never  come 
again  ? " 

"  Don't  weep,  sweet  girl,  dear  Marian  ;  it  breaks  my 
heart  to  see  your  tears,  my  own  darling,"  he  murmured 
low  and  tenderly,  moving  nearer  and  venturing  to  steal 
an  arm  about  her  waist  ;  "  and  yet  there  is  a  strange 
pleasure  in  the  pain,  because  they  show  that  you  are 
not  wholly  indifferent  to  me,  that  you  have  yielded  to 
me  at  least  one  small  corner  of  your  precious  little  heart. 
Is  it  not  so,  dearest  ?  " 

Surely  this  was  the  language  of  love,  and  her  heart 
leaped  up  with  joy  in  the  midst  of  her  pain.  She  did 
not  repulse  him  now,  but  let  him  draw  her  head  to  a 
resting  place  on  his  shoulder  and  kiss  away  her  tears. 

"  Don't  shed  any  more,  vein  of  my  heart ! "  he 
whispered,  "  for  I  will  return  to  you,  perhaps  in  a  few 
months,  certainly  within  a  year." 


134  THE  THORN  IN  THE  ATEST. 

"  Oh,  will  you  ?  "  she  cried,  smiling  through  the  tears, 
lifting  her  eyes  for  an  instant  to  his  to  meet  a  gaze  so 
ardent  that  she  dropped  them  again,  while  a  crimson 
tide  swept  over  face  and  neck. 

The  sun  had  touched  the  western  hilltops,  and  the 
trees  cast  long  shadows  at  their  feet,  when  at  last  they 
rose  and  moved  slowly  on  in  the  direction  of  Glen  Forest. 

He  would  not  go  in,  and  they  parted  at  the  gate  with 
a  long  tender  embrace. 

"  Do  not  forget  me,  sweet  Marian  ;  I  will  come  again," 
he  repeated. 

"  No,  no,  never  !  I  shall  never  forget ! "  she  sobbed, 
"  but,  you,  you  will  forget  me  when  you  are  far  away 
and  meet  other  and  prettier  girls." 

"  I  have  seen  thousands,  but  never  one  half  so  lovely 
or  half  so  sweet,"  he  whispered,  as  for  the  last  time  he 
snatched  a  kiss  from  the  rich  red  lips. 

He  was  gone,  hidden  from  her  by  the  windings  of  the 
road,  and  Marian  hurried  up  the  path  to  the  house,  sat 
down  on  the  porch  step,  and  with  her  arms  round  the 
neck  of  her  faithful  dog,  her  cheek  resting  on  his  head, 
wept  as  if  her  heart  would  break. 

Old  Vashti  found  her  thus. 

"  What  de  mattah,  chile  ?  "  she  asked,  "  you  didn't  hear 
no  bad  news  ?  " 

Marian  shook  her  head.  "  I'm  so  lonely  !  "  she 
sobbed. 

"  Well  dat's  bad  nuff,  chile,  but  don't  fret  yo'  heart  out 
dat  way  ;  de  missus  come  back  soon,  please  de  Lawd  ; 
so  cheer  up,  honey,  and  come  and  eat  yo'  suppah.  I'se 
cooked  a  chicken  and  made  some  o'  dose  muffins  you's 
so  fond  of." 

But  Marian  was  destined  to  be  more  lonely  still.     Sad 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  135 

news  reached  Glen  Forest  the  next  morning  just  as  she 
was  preparing  to  pay  her  usual  visit  to  Woodland.  Miss 
Janet,  in  her  blindness,  had  missed  her  footing  at  the  top 
of  the  stairs  and  fallen  down  the  whole  flight,  striking 
her  head  with  such  force  that  she  was  taken  up  insen- 
sible, and  in  a  few  minutes  had  ceased  to  breathe. 

The  shock  of  the  terrible  accident  brought  a  second 
stroke  of  paralysis  upon  the  bereaved  sister,  and  in  a 
i"ew  days  they  were  lying  side  by  side  in  the  little  church- 
yard. They  had  been  lovely  and  pleasant  in  their  lives, 
and  in  death  were  not  divided. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

ONE  beautiful  October  day  two  well-mounted  gentle- 
men, each  followed  by  a  servant,  came  galloping  into 
Chillicothe,  and  halted  at  Major  Lamar's  door. 

In  the  one  the  major  instantly  recognized  an  old  friend 
and  companion  in  arms,  Captain  Bernard,  now  a  wealthy 
Virginia  planter  ;  the  other  was  introduced  as  an  English 
gentleman,  Mr.  Lysander  Lyttleton,  his  guest  for  some 
weeks,  whom  he  had  persuaded  to  accompany  him  on  a 
visit  to  this  new  state,  of  whose  beauty  and  fertility  they 
had  heard  the  most  flattering  accounts. 

The  major  gave  them  a  hearty  welcome,  and  proffered 
the  hospitalities  of  his  house,  a  larger  and  more  com- 
modious dwelling  than  the  one  he  had  occupied  at  the 
beginning  of  our  story.  Tig  was  summoned  to  take 
charge  of  the  servants  and  horses,  and  the  major  himself 
conducted  his  guests  to  the  parlor  and  introduced  them 
to  his  wife  and  sister. 

Dinner  was  already  on  the  table ;  two  more  plates  were 
added  and  they  sat  down  to  partake  of  the  meal,  but 
while  in  the  act  of  taking  their  places  their  number  was 
augmented  by  a  new  arrival,  a  very  plainly  dressed, 
sober  looking  man,  who  came  in  with  the  air  of  one  who 
felt  quite  at  home,  giving  and  receiving  a  cordial  greeting. 

"  Ah,  Tommy,"  said  the  major,  shaking  hands  with 
him,  "  you  are  just  in  time.  Tig,  set  up  a  chair  and 
bring  another  plate  for  Mr.  Dill." 

Having  been  introduced  in  due   form  to  the  other 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         137 

guests,  and  requested  to  ask  a  blessing,  the  new  comer 
bowed  his  head  over  his  plate,  each  one  present  copying 
his  example,  and  with  outspread  hands  and  closed  eyes, 
poured  out  a  long  prayer  of  fervent  thanksgiving  for  the 
food  set  before  them,  and  all  other  blessings  temporal 
and  spiritual,  mingled  with  much  humble  confession  of 
sin,  and  very  many  petitions  ;  winding  up  with  this 
remarkable  one  :  "  O  Lord,  we  beseech  thee  to  go  into 
the  highways  and  byways  and  hedges  of  our  hearts  and 
drive  out  the  Canaanites,  and  the  Hittites,  and  the 
Hivites,  and  the  Perizzites,  and  the  Girgashites,  and  the 
Amorites,  and  the  Jebusites." 

The  elders  of  the  family  preserved  a  grave  and  decor- 
ous silence  to  the  end,  which  the  guests  and  the  children 
had  some  difficulty  in  doing  ;  the  latter,  especially  the 
little  boys,  being  almost  convulsed  with  suppressed 
laughter. 

At  length  the  Amen  was  pronounced,  Mrs.  Lamar 
hearing  it  with  an  involuntary  sigh  of  relief,  for  she  had 
been  very  uncomfortably  conscious  that  her  dinner  was 
growing  cold,  and  she  particularly  prided  herself  on 
always  having  her  meats  and  vegetables  served  up 
hot. 

She  mentally  resolved  to  enjoin  it  upon  the  major  never 
again  to  call  upon  Tommy  Dill  to  ask  a  blessing  when 
other  guests  were  present. 

But  the  guests  showed  no  lack  of  appreciation  of  the 
fare,  partaking  of  it  with  keen  appetites  and  praising  the 
viands  without  stint. 

"  Such  game  as  this  would  be  considered  a  rarity  in 
my  country,"  remarked  Lyttleton,  as  the  major  heaped  his 
plate  for  the  second  or  third  time  ;  "  but  I  presume  it  is 
abundant  here  ?  " 


138  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Plenty  of  it  to  be  had  for  the  shooting,"  was  the 
reply  ;  "  our  woods  are  full  of  wild  fowl,  deer,  bears, 
rabbits,  squirrels  and  coons  ;  and  the  rivers  abound  in 
fish.  And  such  crops  of  corn  as  are  raised  in  this  Scioto 
valley  you  never  saw,  I  venture  to  say.  I'm  glad  you've 
come  out  here,  Bernard  ;  I  shall  take  delight  in  showing 
you  the  land." 

"  Ah,  the  major  is  riding  his  hobby  now,"  laughed 
Mrs.  Lamar  ;  "  he  is  quite  convinced  that  Ohio,  you 
know  we  have  just  been  admitted  into  the  Union,  Mr. 
Lyttleton,  is  the  finest  of  all  the  states." 

The  Englishman  bowed  an  assent,  a  half  mocking 
smile  playing  about  his  lips. 

Nell  saw  it  and  her  eyes  flashed.  She  thought  he 
despised  her  country. 

"  How  long  since  you  left  England?"  asked  the  major, 
addressing  Lyttleton  ;  and  then  began  an  animated  dis- 
cussion of  the  political  situation  in  Europe,  the  attitude 
of  France  and  England  toward  each  other,  the  career  of 
Bonaparte,  then  the  French  revolution,  particularly  the 
Reign  of  Terror,  Mr.  Lyttleton  greatly  interesting  the 
company  by  a  graphic  description  of  those  of  its  scenes 
of  which  he  had  been  an  eye-witness. 

He  turned  frequently  to  Nell  as  he  spoke,  for  he  read 
intense  interest  in  her  bated  breath,  changing  color,  the 
kindling  of  her  eye  when  he  told  of  some  heroic  deed, 
the  tears  that  suffused  it  and  the  tumultuous  heaving  of 
her  breast  when  the  anguish  of  the  wretched  victims  was 
his  theme. 

A  connoisseur  in  female  beauty,  he  was  struck  with 
admiration  at  the  first  sight  of  Nell,  the  delicacy  of  her 
complexion,  the  perfect  symmetry  of  form  and  features, 
the  queenly  grace  of  every  movement,  and  the  abundant 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        139 

wealth  of  beautiful  hair  that  crowned  her  shapely  head. 
There  was  no  little  display  of  artistic  taste  in  its  arrange- 
ment, and  in  the  simple  elegance  of  her  attire. 

Lyttleton  mentally  pronounced  Clare  also  a  fine-looking 
and  intelligent  woman.  She  bore  a  prominent  part  in  the 
conversation,  while  Nell  contented  herself  almost  entirely 
with  silent  listening,  though  from  neither  lack  of  ideas 
nor  bashfulness,  as  her  speaking  countenance  and  quiet 
ease  of  manner  fully  attested. 

Lyttleton  wanted  to  draw  her  out,  to  hear  her  opinion 
on  some  of  the  controverted  points,  so  seated  himself  at 
her  side,  when  the  dining-room  had  been  forsaken  for  the 
parlor,  and  asked  what  she  thought  of  the  sentiments 
expressed  by  himself  and  others. 

He  found  she  had  an  opinion  and  was  able  to  maintain 
it  with  spirit  and  ability. 

They  were  still  talking  earnestly  when  Kenneth  came 
in  ;  so  earnestly,  that  they  were  not  aware  of  his  entrance 
until  the  major  pronounced  his  name  in  introducing 
Captain  Bernard. 

"  Dr.  Clendenin." 

Lyttleton  turned  hastily  at  the  sound  and  scanned  the 
tall,  manly  figure  and  noble  face  with  ill  concealed  eager- 
ness  and  curiosity  ;  then  as  the  major  named  him,  "  Mr. 
Lyttleton,  lately  from  England,"  rose  with  a  slight  bow, 
and  accepted  Kenneth's  offered  hand  with  a  show  of 
cordiality  and  a  "  Most  happy  to  meet  you,  sir." 

But  neither  then  nor  afterward  did  he  give  the  smallest 
hint  of  his  acquaintance  with  Marian,  or  his  visit  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Glen  Forest.  He  had  read  Marian's 
nature,  delicate,  sensitive,  reserved,  and  felt  sure  that 
she  would  confide  to  no  one  the  secret  of  their  solitary 
rambles,  their  stolen  interviews,  much  less  of  the 


140  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

of  his  looks  and  tones,  scarcely  put  into  plain  words  by 
his  wily  tongue. 

"  I  have  not  committed  myself,  did  not  ask  her  to  be 
my  wife,  or  even  say  '  I  love  you,'  "  was  his  inward 
thought ;  "  and  she  would  die  rather  than  own  that  she 
had  been  so  lightly  won." 

Kenneth  declined  an  invitation  to  be  seated. 

"  I  am  summoned  in  haste  to  a  very  sick  patient,"  he 
said,  "  and  merely  stepped  in,  in  passing,  to  ask  Mrs. 
Lamar's  kind  offices  for  another  who  is  suffering  from  the 
lack  of  proper  nursing." 

"  Those  poor  devils  of  country  doctors  have  a  hard  life 
of  it,"  remarked  Lyttleton  superciliously,  when  Kenneth 
had  gone. 

"  It  is  a  noble,  self-sacrificing  life,"  replied  Nell,  with 
some  hauteur,  "  I  know  of  none  that  is  more  so  than 
Dr.  Clendenin's." 

She  would  not  have  Kenneth  pitied  or  patronized  by 
this  insolent  stranger,  and  she  glanced  with  scorn  at  the 
white  hands,  delicate  and  shapely  almost  as  a  woman's, 
one  of  which  was  toying  with  the  seals  of  a  heavy  gold 
watch  chain  in  a  way  to  display  to  advantage  a  brilliant 
gem  that  glittered  on  the  little  finger. 

They  were  alone  at  the  moment,  the  major  and  his 
friend  having  followed  Mrs.  Lamar  and  Kenneth  to  the 
outer  door. 

Lyttleton  lifted  his  eyebrows  meaningly,  and  with  a 
slight  expressive  shrug  of  the  shoulders  : 

"  Ah,  I  beg  pardon,  Miss  Lamar  !  an  intimate  and  par- 
ticular friend  of  yours  ?  I  was  not  aware  of  it ;  and  in 
fact  was  merely  speaking  of  the  class  in  general." 

"And  I  was  defending  the  whole  profession,"  remarked 
Nell,  "  of  which  Dr.  Clendenin,  our  family  physician,  is 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  141 

the  representative  to  us.  We  owe  him  much  for  his 
kind  and  faithful  services  in  more  than  one  dangerous 
illness  among  us." 

Lyttleton  remarked  that  her  sentiments  did  her  honor  ; 
then  with  a  desire  to  introduce  a  fresh  topic,  "  You  have 
an  odd  character  in  that  Mr.  Dill,"  he  said,  "  or  is  that 
the  sort  of  grace  usual  at  meals  in  this  part  of  the 
world  ? " 

"  I  never  heard  such  from  any  one  else,"  Nell  answered 
with  gravity.  "  He  is  an  excellent  man,  but  slightly  de- 
ranged. There  was  a  meeting  of  one  of  our  church 
courts  in  town  yesterday,  and  he  always  attends.  But 
he  has  gone  now  to  his  home  and  we  shall  probably  see 
no  more  of  him  for  some  time." 

"  I'm  going  with  the  major  to  take  a  look  at  the  town  ; 
will  you  go  along,  Mr.  Lyttleton?" 

Captain  Bernard  spoke  from  the  open  door. 

"  Thank  you,  yes  ; "  and  with  a  courteous  "  Good- 
afternoon  "  to  Nell,  Lyttleton  followed  the  others  into 
the  street. 

He  had  come  to  Chillicothe  with  the  undivulged  inten- 
tion of  taking  up  his  residence  there  for  some  months, 
and  having  made  the  tour  of  the  town  he  called  at  the 
General  Anthony  Wayne  and  engaged  board  and  lodging 
for  himself  and  servant ;  his  choice  secretly  influenced 
by  the  discovery  that  it  was  there  that  Dr.  Clendenin  took 
his  meals  ;  for  Lyttleton  had  his  own  private  reasons  for 
wishing  to  see  and  hear  all  he  could  of  Kenneth  and  his 
manner  of  life. 

Captain  Bernard  made  a  like  arrangement,  though  for 
a  shorter  period  of  time  ;  then  having  seen  their  luggage 
bestowed  in  their  rooms  and  refreshed  themselves  by  a 
change  of  linen,  they  returned  to  the  major's  for  the  rest 


142  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

of  the  day  and  evening,  in  accordance  with  his  urgent 
invitation. 

Mrs.  Lamar  being  still  absent  on  her1  errand  of  mercy, 
it  fell  to  Nell's  lot  to  do  the  honors  of  the  tea-table  ;  a 
duty  of  which  she  acquitted  herself  with  an  ease  and 
grace  that  increased  the  admiration  Lyttleton  had 
already  conceived  for  her. 

Primitive  customs  still  prevailed  in  Chill icothe  ;  the 
tea  hour  was  so  early  that  when  they  rose  from  the  table 
the  sun  had  scarcely  set  behind  the  western  hills. 
And  the  hunter's  moon  shone  full-orbed  over  the  tree 
tops. 

-  The  captain  proposed  a  walk,  remarking  that  the  even- 
ing was  much  too  fine  to  be  spent  within  doors,  and  he 
and  the  major  set  off  together,  strolling  along  in  leis- 
urely fashion,  smoking  and  talking  of  "  the  days  of  auld 
lang  syne." 

They  had  invited  Nell  and  Lyttleton  to  accompany 
them,  but  both  had  declined  ;  the  one  pleading  the 
necessity  of  attending  to  some  domestic  duty  devolving 
upon  her  in  her  sister's  absence,  the  other  that  he  found 
himself  already  sufficiently  fatigued  with  riding  and  walk- 
ing. 

"  Never  mind  me,  major,"  he  said,  seating  himself  in 
the  porch,  and  coaxing  little  three  year  old  Bertie  to  his 
knee  ;  "  I'll  amuse  myself  with  these  little  folks  till  you 
return." 

He  soon  had  the  whole  flock  about  him,  telling  them 
stories  and  singing  them  songs,  and  they  were  having  a 
merry  time  when  Aunt  Nell  came  to  the  door  to  say  that 
it  was  their  bed  time  and  Maria  was  waiting. 

Daylight  had  quite  faded  out  of  the  sky  and  the  air 
grown  so  chill  that  the  warmth  of  the  blazing  wood  fire  in 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  143 

the  parlor  was  far  from  unpleasant  to  Lyttleton  as  he  fol- 
lowed the  children  into  the  house. 

Begging  the  guest  to  excuse  her  for  a  moment,  and  to 
make  himself  entirely  at  home,  Nell  went  away  with 
Maria  and  the  children. 

Lyttleton  stood  by  the  fire  musing. 

"  What  a  handsome  girl !  and  her  manners  would  not 
disgrace  a  court.  She's  some  years  older,  and  more 
formed  than  Clendenin's  sister  ;  quite  as  fine  looking  too, 
though  an  entirely  different  style  of  beauty ;  not  over 
twenty  I  should  say.  The  other  I  take  to  be  fifteen. 
Clendenin  admires  her  vastly  ;  I  saw  that  in  his  glance, 
and  that  he  saw  in  me  a  possible  rival.  Well,  I  shall 
enjoy  getting  into  her  good  graces  none  the  less  for 
that." 

Two  candles  were  burning  on  the  table,  and  beside 
them  a  piece  of  delicate  embroidery  which  Nell  took  up 
on  her  return  to  the  room. 

Lyttleton  drew  a  chair  to  her  side  and  exerted  his  con- 
versational powers  to  the  utmost  for  her  entertainment ; 
evidently  not  without  success  ;  her  low  musical  laugh  rang 
out  again  and  again,  she  gave  him  many  a  bright  glance 
from  her  liquid  eyes,  and  many  a  quick  word  of  repartee. 

He  grew  more  and  more  interested  in  her  and  con- 
gratulated himself  on  his  good  fortune  in  having  come 
upon  such  a  gem  "  here  in  the  wilderness." 

Suddenly  he  started,  turned  pale,  and  half  rose  from 
his  chair  with  a  low  exclamation  of  fear  or  dismay.  His 
eyes  seemed  fixed  upon  some  object  behind  Nell,  whose 
back  was  toward  the  hall  door,  and  she  turned  her  head 
hastily  to  see  what  it  was. 

A  tall  Indian,  dressed  in  native  costume,  tomahawk 
and  scalping  knife  in  his  belt,  and  feathers  in  his  hair, 


144  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

stood  there  regarding  the  Englishman  with  a  contempt- 
uous smile. 

"  Ugh  !  big  baby  !  "  he  grunted. 

"  Wawillaway  !  "  cried  Nell,  springing  up  and  shaking 
hands  with  the  chief  in  the  most  cordial  manner  ;  "  you 
are  welcome,  always  welcome  to  my  brother's  wigwam  ! 
Mr.  Lyttleton,  you  rieed  not  be  alarmed  ;  Wawillaway  is 
my  very  good  friend,  and  has  always  been  a  brother  to 
the  white  man." 

The  major  coming  in  at  that  moment  with  Captain 
Bernard,  echoed  his  sister's  words  of  welcome,  as  he 
grasped  the  chief's  hand  and  shook  it  heartily. 

The  captain  did  likewise,  gazing  with  admiration  upon 
the  tall  sinewy  form  and  well  developed  limbs  of  this 
untutored  son  of  the  forest. 

Leaving  the  gentlemen  to  entertain  each  other,  Nell 
led  the  way  to  the  dining-room,  and  with  her  own  fair 
hands  set  before  the  chief  an  abundant  supply  of  the 
best  food  the  house  afforded. 

He  ate  heartily,  then  wrapping  his  blanket  about  him, 
stretched  himself  upon  the  kitchen  floor  with  his  feet  to 
the  fire. 

"  Pray  do  not  deem  me  a  coward,"  Lyttleton  said  in  a 
low  aside  to  Nell  on  her  return  to  the  parlor.  "  It  was 
my  first  sight  of  an  Indian,  I  unarmed,  and  I  expected 
to  see  that  tomahawk  go  crashing  through  your  brain." 

"  I  shall  endeavor  to  make  all  due  allowance,"  Nell 
answered  courteously ;  but  he  fancied  that  he  read  con- 
tempt in  the  smile  that  accompanied  her  words. 

It  nettled  him,  and  he  mentally  resolved  to  seize  the 
first  opportunity  of  proving  to  her  that  he  was  not  lack- 
ing in  courage. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

"  WHAT  do  you  think  of  this  Englishman  ?  " 

Dale  was  pacing  Kenneth's  office  with  his  hands  in  his 
pockets,  while  the  latter,  seated  before  his  table,  where 
were  arranged  various  bottles,  gallipots,  and  a  delicate 
pair  of  scales,  was  busily  engaged  in  weighing  out  med- 
icines and  putting  them  in  powders. 

He  smiled  slightly,  then  answered  in  a  grave,  some- 
what preoccupied  tone  : 

"  Handsome,  intelligent,  travelled,  apparently  wealthy  ! 
can  be  very  interesting  in  conversation,  but  haunts  my 
office  a  little  more  than  is  perfectly  agreeable  to  a  man 
whose  time  is  often  more  than  money." 

"  No  insinuation  I  hope  ? "  returned  Dale,  laughing 
and  shrugging  his  shoulders. 

"  Not  at  all,  Godfrey,  I  feel  at  liberty  to  invite  you  to 
retire  when  I  wish  to  be  rid  of  you." 

"  Thank  you  ;  I  regard  that  as  an  incontrovertible 
proof  of  friendship.  But  to  return  ;  I  don't  fancy  the 
fellow  ;  he's  too  highly  polished  ;  his  extreme  suavity  of 
manner  fills  me  with  a  desire  to  knock  him  down. 
There's  nothing  like  an  air  of  patronage  to  make  my 
angry  passions  rise." 

"  And  then  he's  forever  at  Miss  Lamar's  side,  robbing 
every  other  fellow  of  the  least  chance  to  bask  in  her 
smiles.  I  haven't  been  able  to  exchange  a  dozen  sen- 
tences with  her  in  the  week  that  he's  been  in  our  town. 
I  vote  that  he  be  sent  back  to  his  own  country." 


146  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Dale  did  not  see  the  half  spasm  of  pain  that  con- 
tracted Kenneth's  brow  for  an  instant. 

"  I  must  gojiow,  have  to  ride  ten  miles  into  the  coun- 
try," he  said,  folding  the  last  powder  ;  then  bestowing 
them,  along  with  such  other  medical  and  surgical  appli- 
ances as  he  might  have  need  of,  in  his  saddle- bags,  he 
summoned  Zeb  to  put  them  on  his  horse,  ready  saddled, 
at  the  door,  and  donning  overcoat  and  hat,  hurried  out, 
mounted  and  away  at  a  rapid  gallop. 

The  principal  streets  had  now  been  cleared  of  trees 
and  Indians  wigwams  alike  ;  they  were  very  wide  and 
straight,  giving  an  extended  view  and  plenty  of  room  for 
the  passage  of  equestrians  and  vehicles. 

Far  ahead  of  him  Kenneth  could  see  a  lady  and  gen- 
tleman on  horseback  cantering  briskly  along  ;  he  over- 
took them,  and  in  passing  caught,  and  returned,  a  smile 
and  bow  from  Nell  Lamar  and  the  Englishman. 

They  were  out  for  a  ride  through  the  gay,  beautiful 
woods  this  delicious  October  morning. 

Something  akin  to  envy  of  Lyttleton  stirred  for  a 
moment  in  Kenneth's  breast ;  but  he  struggled  against 
it. 

"  Why  should  I  grudge  to  him  the  prize  that  can  never 
be  mine  ?  "  he  asked  himself.  "  And  am  I  so  utterly,  so 
abominably  selfish,  that  I  cannot  rejoice  in  her  happi- 
ness, though  it  be  with  another  ?  Faster,  faster,  good 
Romeo,"  he  continued  aloud,  patting  the  neck  of  his 
noble  steed  ;  "  let  us  bestir  ourselves,  my  boy,  for  we  are 
needed  yonder,  and  jealousy  and  envy  must  be  left 
behind." 

The  intelligent  creature  seemed  to  understand,  and 
urged  by  neither  whip  nor  spur,  flew  over  the  ground 
with  almost  the  speed  of  the  wind. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         147 

Far  in  the  distance  a  farm-house  loomed  up  into  sight, 
and  as  they  drew  rapidly  nearer  Kenneth  could  descry  a 
horseman  galloping  furiously  toward  it  from  the  oppo- 
site direction. 

His  first  thought  was  that  it  might  be  another  mes- 
senger from  the  house  to  which  he  was  bound,  some 
miles  farther  on,  and  where  a  patient  lay  very  ill. 

But  no  ;  the  man  drew  rein  at  the  gate  of  the  dwell- 
ing already  in  sight,  and  as  Kenneth  came  dashing  up, 
was  in  earnest  colloquy  with  the  farmer. 

They  hailed  him. 

"  Hollo,  doctor  !  stop  a  bit.  Have  you  heard  the 
news  ? " 

"  No,"  he  answered,  coming  to  a  sudden  halt  along- 
side of  the  other  horseman,  whom  he  now  recognized  as 
a  farmer  living  some  distance  down  the  prairie.  "  Are 
you  the  bearer  of  evil  tidings,  Coe,  an  accident,  some 
one  hurt  ?  I  have  hardly  time  to  stop  unless  my  services 
are  needed." 

"  Worse  than  that,  doctor  ;  he's  beyond  your  help, 
poor  fellow  ;  but  you'd  best  listen,  for  all  that  !  " 

"  Yes,"  put  in  the  other  man,  with  an  oath,  "  it's  the 
doin's  o'  those  cussed  red  skins,  an'  if  ye  don't  look  out 
doc,  they'll  be  takin'  your  scalp  afore  ye  know  it." 

"  What  !  you  don't  mean  that  the  Indians  have  begun 
hostilities  again,  Wolf  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  I  do  !  "  he  cried  with  a  yet  fiercer  oath,  and 
bringing  his  fist  down  heavily  upon  the  palm  of  the  other 
hand  ;  "  here's  Coe  brings  news  that  Captain  Herrod's 
found  lyin'  in  the  woods  murdered  and  scalped  ;  Captain 
Herrod,  a  man  greatly  loved  by  his  neighbors,  as  ye  must 
know,  and  of  course  it's  their  work  ;  and  the  next  thing 
they'll  be  burning  down  our  houses  about  our  ears,  and 


148  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

butcherin'  and  scalpin*  men,  women  and  children,  as 
they  did  afore  Mad  Anthony  Wayne  whipped  'em  into 
good  behavior.  The  dirty,  sneakin',  treacherous  ras- 
cals !  "  he  went  on,  "  I  hate  'em  like  pizen." 

"  Is  there  any  positive  proof  that  Herrod  met  his 
death  at  their  hands  ?  "  Kenneth  asked,  turning  to  Coe. 

"  No  ;  but  it  looks  likely  ;  and  I'm  out  to  warn  the 
settlers  in  the  valley  that  we'd  best  be  moving  close 
together  and  building  block-houses  for  protection." 

"  That  we  had,"  exclaimed  Wolf,  again  cursing  the 
savages  as  cruel  and  treacherous. 

"  They  have  often  proved  so  in  past  times,"  said 
Kenneth  ;  "  yet  there  have  been  some  noble  exceptions, 
and  certainly  we  have  not  been  guiltless  in  our  treat- 
ment of  them." 

"  We've  paid  'em  back  in  their  own  coin,"  Wolf  an- 
swered with  a  savage  grin  ;  "  and  we'll  do  it  again  ;  I'd 
as  lief  shoot  a  red  skin  as  a  dog  any  day." 

"  Yet  it  is  as  truly  murder  as  to  kill  a  white  man," 
said  Kenneth,  "  for  God  hath  made  of  one  blood  all 
nations  of  men.  But  we  have  no  time  to  talk,  Coe.  You 
go  on  to  Chillicothe  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  beyond,  warning  everybody  to  be  getting 
ready  for  the  worst.  I  must  be  off.  Good  day  to  ye 
both,  gentlemen." 

He  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  but  Kenneth  called  after 
him : 

"  Stay  a  moment ;  I  passed  a  lady  and  gentleman 
riding  out  from  the  town.  Be  on  the  lookout  for  them 
and  warn  them  to  hurry  back,  will  you  ?  " 

"  All  right,  doc ! "  and  each  sped  on  his  way, 
Kenneth's  thoughts  divided  between  grief  for  the  violent 
death  of  a  friend  and  neighbor,  and  anxiety  for  his 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  149 

patient,  and  for  sweet  Nell  Lamar,  who  might  be  even 
now  in  danger  from  the  savages. 

Alas,  to  have  to  trust  her  to  the  Englishman's  care, 
and  he  in  all  probability  entirely  unarmed  ! 

It  was  sorely  against  his  will  that  Kenneth  continued 
to  increase  the  distance  between  her  and  himself. 

Nor  did  he  tarry  unnecessarily  in  the  sick  room  or 
snatch  even  a  moment  to  refresh  himself  with  food, 
though  in  need  of  it  and  urgently  pressed  to  sit  down 
to  a  well  spread  board. 

"  Do  now,  doctor,  stop  and  take  a  bite,"  entreated 
the  lady  of  the  house,  following  him  to  the  door  ;  "  why 
it'll  be  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  or  even  later  before 
you  can  get  back  to  Chillicothe." 

"  Thank  you  kindly,  Mrs.  Bray,"  he  said,  tightening 
his  saddle  girth  as  he  spoke,  "  but  I  really  do  not  feel 
hungry,  and  am  in  very  great  haste  to  return." 

"  Excited  over  this  news  of  poor  Captain  Herrod  ? " 
she  said.  "  Well,  it's  just  as  likely  to  have  been  the  work 
of  some  white  man  as  of  the  Indians,  I  think  ;  somebody 
that's  had  a  grudge  against  him." 

"  He  was  much  beloved,  Mrs.  Bray." 

"  That's  true  too,  and  yet  I've  heard  he  had  an 
enemy."  , 

"  I  do  not  know,  but  hope  it  may  not  prove  the  begin- 
ning of  hostilities,"  Kenneth  returned  as  he  sprang  into 
the  saddle.  "  Good  afternoon,  madame.  Now,  Romeo, 
good  fellow,  on  at  the  top  of  your  speed." 

He  glanced  warily  from  side  to  side,  alert  but  courag- 
eous, as  he  skimmed  over  the  prairies  and  plunged 
through  the  forests  ;  yet  no  sign  of  lurking  savage 
rewarded  his  vigilance. 

He  did  not  halt  or  slacken  his  pace  till  fairly  within 


150  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

the  limits  of  the  town  ;  then  allowing  his  panting  steed 
to  fall  into  a  walk,  he  looked  up  and  down  the  streets. 

People  were  hurrying  along  in  unusual  haste,  or  stand- 
ing in  groups  talking  earnestly,  with  grave,  sad,  anxious 
faces. 

Major  Lamar,  detaching  himself  from  one  of  these 
knots  of  talkers,  called  to  Kenneth  to  stop,  then  coming 
to  his  side  asked  if  he  had  heard  the  news. 

"  Of  poor  Captain  Herrod  ?  Yes.  What  is  thought 
of  it,  that  it's  the  doing  of  the  Indians  ?  " 

"  There  are  various  opinions.  We  have  held  a  town 
meeting,  resolved  to  prepare  for  the  worst,  discovered 
that  there  is  no  ammunition  in  town,  and  started  a  party 
down  the  river  in  a  pirogue,  to  bring  a  supply  from 
Cincinnati." 

"  No  ammunition  in  town,  is  it  possible,  and  we  may 
be  attacked  at  any  moment !  " 

"  True  :  but  we  do  not  hear  of  any  Indians  being  seen 
on  the  war  path.  We  will  hope  for  the  best." 

"  Miss  Nell  ?  "  inquired  Kenneth,  "  I  passed  her  and 
Lyttleton  as  I  left  town  this  morning." 

"  Yes  ;  they  met  Coe  and  came  back  in  something  of 
a  panic.  Nell  hardly  the  more  alarmed  of  the  two,  I 
fancy  ;  "  and  there  was  a  sly  twinkle  in  the  major's  eye, 
an  almost  imperceptible  smile  lurking  about  the  corners 
of  his  mouth. 

"  She  is  safe  then  ?  I  was  a  little  uneasy,  not  know- 
ing how  far  they  meant  to  go." 

By  this  time  quite  a  little  crowd  had  collected  about 
Romeo,  and  Kenneth  was  plied  with  eager  queries  as  to 
the  road  he  had  been  travelling,  and  whether  he  had 
seen  any  signs  of  hostile  Indians. 

His  replies  negativing  the  last  question,  seemed  to 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  151 

afford  some  slight  satisfaction,  some  hope  that  there  was 
less  occasion  for  alarm  than  had  been  feared. 

Still  all  were  in  favor  of  proceeding  with  the  work, 
already  resolved  upon  in  the  public  meeting,  of  fortifying 
the  town.  Kenneth  was  dismounting  at  his  office  door 
when  Barbour  hailed  him,  with  a  request  that  he  would 
come  at  once  to  his  house,  as  his  wife  seemed  in  a  very 
bad  way. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  asked  the  doctor,  hurrying 
along  by  Barbour's  side. 

"  I  hardly  know,  doc  ;  she's  a  good  deal  alarmed  with 
this  story  of  Captain  Herrod's  murder,  and  really  seems 
hardly  able  to  breathe." 

"  Hysteria,  doubtless." 

"  Dangerous  ?  " 

"  No,  not  particularly  so,"  returned  the  doctor  dryly. 

But  Mrs.  Barbour  managed  to  detain  him  in  attend- 
ance upon  her  for  a  couple  of  hours,  insisting  that  she 
should  certainly  die  if  he  left  her,  till  at  last  he  was  com- 
pelled to  tell  her  that  he  could  not  stay  another  moment, 
nor  was  it  at  all  necessary  that  he  should. 

Returning  to  his  office  he  found  Major  Lamar  waiting 
for  him,  with  an  invitation  to  tea.  Kenneth  demurred, 
though  beginning  to  be  most  uncomfortably  sensible  that 
he  had  not  tasted  food  since  an  early  breakfast,  but  the 
major  would  take  no  denial. 

"  I  have  some  very  fine  game,  and  have  set  my  heart 
upon  sharing  the  enjoyment  of  it  with  you,"  he  said  ; 
"  and  I  shall  be  quite  in  disgrace  with  my  wife  if  I  fail  to 
bring  you  according  to  promise.  Bernard  and  Lyttleton 
are  to  sup  with  us  too  ;  so  that  you  may  feel  assured  of  a 
feast  of  reason  and  a  flow  of  soul,"  he  added,  jocosely  ; 
"  the  Englishman  is  a  good  talker,  you  know." 


152  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Yes,  his  conversational  powers  are  enviable,"  Ken- 
neth answered  in  a  tone  of  hearty  good  will.  "  And 
since  you  are  so  kindly  urgent,  major,  I  will  go  with  you." 

A  vision  of  Lyttleton  basking  in  Nell's  sunny  smiles, 
calling  forth  her  silvery  laughter  with  his  mirth-provok- 
ing sallies,  thrilling  her  with  his  stories  of  wild  adventure, 
or  moving  her  to  tears  with  the  pathos  of  his  description 
of  human  suffering  or  heroism  in  times  of  danger,  had 
brought  about  this  decision,  erroneously  ascribed  by  the 
major  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  picture  he  had  drawn. 

Kenneth  made  a  hasty  toilet  and  they  walked  over  to 
the  major's  together. 

Full  half  of  Lyttleton'stime  during  this  week  in  Chilli- 
cothe  had  been  spent  there,  as  Kenneth  knew  to  his  no 
small  disturbance.  In  vain  he  reminded  himself  that  he 
could  never  claim  Nell  as  his  own,  therefore  had  not  the 
shadow  of  a  right  to  stand  in  the  way  of  another  ;  he 
could  not  school  his  heart  into  a  willingness  to  utterly 
resign  the  faint  hope  that  would  linger  there,  spite  of 
reason's  mighty  arguments  against  it. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

LYTTLETON  and  Nell  were  in  the  gayest  spirits  that 
mornbrg'  as  they  sped  briskly  onward  through  forest  and 
over  prairie,  talking  cheerily  of  the  sweetness  of  the  air, 
the  beauty  of  the  woods,  and  exchanging  many  a  little 
harmless  jest,  no  thought  of  danger  troubling  them. 

They  were  several  miles  out  from  the  town  when  they 
espied  a  small  cloud  of  dust  far  ahead  which  seemed  to 
be  rapidly  drawing  nearer. 

"  What  is  it  ? "  cried  Nell,  reining  in  her  pony,  while 
she  sent  an  anxious  gaze  in  the  direction  of  the  approach- 
ing cloud.  "  Ah,  I  see,  it  is  a  man  riding  as  if  for  life." 

"  After  a  doctor,  I  suspect,"  observed  Lyttleton  ; 
"  some  one  hurt,  perhaps." 

"  But  he  must  have  passed  Dr.  Clendenin,"  returned 
Nell,  "  so  it  can  hardly  be  that."  And  as  the  man  at  that 
moment  came  dashing  up  she  turned  her  pony  aside  to 
let  him  pass. 

Instead  he  halted  close  beside  them  with  a  suddenness 
that  nearly  threw  his  horse  upon  his  haunches. 

"  Go  back,"  he  panted;  "turn  right  around  and  go 
back  to  the  town  as  fast  as  you  can  make  your  beasts 
move  ;  don't  spare  whip  nor  spur,  for  there's  no  tellin' 
but  the  woods  may  be  full  of  Injuns  this  minute.  They've 
found  Captain  Herrod  lyin'  dead  and  scalped  in  the 
woods,  and  I'm  out  to  rouse  the  neighborhood  ;  for  of 
course  it's  altogether  likely  to  have  been  the  doin's  o'  the 
redskins." 


154  THE  THORN  IN  THE  A'EST. 

"  Captain  Herrod  ! "  exclaimed  Nell,  tears  starting  to 
her  eyes  ;  "  can  it  be  ?  It  is  not  more  than  a  week  since  he 
dined  at  my  brother's  table,  and  we  all  liked  him  so  much." 

"  Yes,  miss,  he  was  a  fine  man,  liked  by  a'most  every- 
body," said  Coe.  "  But  we'd  best  be  moving  on.  We'll 
put  the  lady  in  between  us,  sir,  for  her  better  protection. 
And  now  for  Chillicothe  !  " 

As  the  three  came  galloping  furiously  into  the  town, 
people  rushed  to  their  doors  and  windows,  and  Coe, 
checking  his  horse,  and  calling  aloud  that  he  was  the 
bearer  of  important  tidings,  an  eager,  questioning  crowd 
quickly  gathered  about  him,  and  the  news  spread  like 
wildfire  through  the  place. 

Lyttleton  dashed  up  to  the  major's  door,  and  only 
waiting  to  assist  Nell  to  alight,  he  remounted  and  hurried 
back  to  the  spot  where  they  had  left  Coe  ;  then  giving 
his  horse  into  his  servant's  care,  he  followed  the  crowd 
and  was  present  at  the  town  meeting. 

"  What  a  precious  pack  of  fools,  to  be  caught  so  !  "  he 
muttered  on  hearing  the  announcement  that  there  was  no 
ammunition  in  the  place.  "  I  say,  captain,"  to  his  friend 
Bernard,  who  stood  by  his  side,  "  I  wish  we  were  well  out 
of  this,  I've  no  mind  to  stay  here  and  be  butchered  by 
the  wild  Indians." 

"  Better  go  at  once,  then,"  sneered  the  captain. 

"  Go  ?  through  the  woods  where  they  are  probably 
swarming  ?  Thank  you,  no  ;  'twould  be  a  greater  risk 
than  to  stay  where  I  am." 

"  Suppose  then  you  go  with  the  party  in  the  pirogue, 
down  the  river  to  Cincinnati  ?  " 

"  Nonsense  !  that  would  be  scarcely  safer  ;  the  savages 
might  easily  pursue  it  in  a  canoe,  or  fire  on  us  from  the 
shore." 


THE  THOR.V  7.V  THE  NEST.         155 

"  Then  my  advice  to  you  is  to  stay  and  meet  the  danger 
like  a  man." 

"  Of  course,  of  course,"  stammered  Lyttleton  ;  "  but 
I  wish  I'd  never  come.  I  shouldn't,  if  I  hadn't  under- 
stood that  all  danger  of  hostilities  was  entirely  past.  I've 
no  mind  to  go  home  to  old  England  without  my  scalp." 

"  If  that's  your  only  concern,"  returned  the  captain 
dryly,  "  you  may  set  your  mind  at  rest  ;  there's  no  danger 
that  you  will  go  back  without  your  scalp." 

"  You  mean  that  they'll  finish  me  if  they  get  the  chance," 
muttered  Lyttleton,  turning  away  with  a  look  of  intense 
disgust. 

"  He's  a  coward  !  "  said  the  captain  to  himself  ;  and 
Nell  Lamar  was  at  that  very  moment  expressing  the  same 
opinion  to  Clare  at  the  conclusion  of  a  breathless  narra- 
tion of  the  events  of  the  last  hour. 

"  Perhaps  not,  don't  be  too  ready  to  judge  him 
hardly,"  returned  Clara,  who  was  partial  to  the  English- 
man's handsome  person,  winning  address,  and  apparently 
full  purse,  and  would  have  been  more  than  willing  to 
bestow  Nell's  hand  upon  him. 

"  I  have  no  wish  to  be  unjust  or  uncharitable,"  said 
Nell,  "  but  he  was  so  pale  and  so  agitated  from  the 
moment  he  heard  the  news  till  he  left  me  here  at  the 
door  that  I  was  even  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  he 
was  afraid." 

The  afternoon  was  full  of  excitement.  Dale  ran  in  for 
a  moment  to  say  good-by.  He  was  one  of  the  party 
detailed  to  go  for  ammunition. 

"You  will  be  in  danger  ?"  Nell  said  inquiringly,  as 
they  shook  hands. 

"  Yes,  probably  :  yet  perhaps  not  more  so  than  those 
who  stay  behind.  I'm  not  specially  uneasy  on  that 


IS 6  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

score,  in  fact,  have  but  one  objection  to  going  upon  the 
errand,  that  in  case  of  an  attack  during  our  absence  I 
shall  not  be  here  to  help  defend  you." 

He  seemed  excited  but  full  of  a  cheerful  courage. 
"  Don't  be  too  anxious,  ladies,  I  cannot  help  hoping  the 
whole  thing  will  blow  over,"  were  his  last  words  as  he 
hurried  away. 

An  unspoken  fear  lay  heavy  at  Nell's  heart,  Dr.  Clen- 
denin,  where  was  he  ?  Coe  had  told  of  his  warning  to 
him,  but  that  he  had  gone  on  his  way  all  the  same  as  if 
no  danger  lay  in  it,  and  Nell  reflected  with  a  feeling  of 
exultant  admiration,  that  he  would  never  desert  the 
post  of  duty  through  fear  of  consequences  to  himself. 

But  should  she  ever  see  him  again  ?  He  might  be 
even  now  lying  dead  and  scalped  by  the  roadside  or  in 
the  woods,  as  Captain  Herrod  had  been  found,  or  per- 
chance wounded  and  bleeding,  dying  for  lack  of  help. 

How  she  shuddered  and  turned  pale  at  the  very  thought, 
while  now  and  again  a  wild  impulse  seized  her  to  mount 
her  pony  and  away  in  search  of  him. 

At  length  the  suspense  and  anxiety  were  unendurable, 
and  hastily  tying  on  her  garden  hat,  she  hurried  out  into 
the  street. 

She  had  gone  scarcely  a  square  when  at  no  great  dis- 
tance she  descried,  glad  sight,  Romeo  and  his  master 
surrounded  by  a  little  crowd  of  eager,  excited  men,  and 
with  a  sigh  of  intense  relief  she  turned  a  corner  and 
walked  briskly  on,  her  heart  full  of  joy  and  thankfulness. 

But  Kenneth  could  never  have  guessed  her  feelings 
from  her  quiet,  almost  indifferent  greeting  that  evening, 
and  indeed  was  sorely  pained  by  the  contrast  of  her 
manner  to  him  and  to  Lyttleton,  whom  in  her  heart  she 
despised. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        157 

The  latter  hovered  about  her  all  the  evening,  admiring 
the  delicate  embroidery  growing  beneath  her  white,  taper 
fingers,  paying  her  graceful  compliments  and  indulging 
in  witticisms  that  now  and  then  provoked  a  saucy  reply 
or  a  ripple  of  silvery  laughter. 

Apparently  they  were  full  of  careless  mirth,  while  the 
others,  sitting  together  about  the  fire,  discussed  with  grave 
and  anxious  faces  the  present  threatening  posture  of 
affairs.  Kenneth  bore  his  share  in  the  conversation, 
being  frequently  appealed  to  by  the  major,  as  one  whose 
opinion  was  worthy  of  all  consideration,  yet  furtively 
watched  Nell  and  her  vis-a-vis  ;  the  seeming  favor  in 
which  Lyttleton  was  held  pained  him,  yet  Nell  was  not 
consciously  coquetting. 

Both  the  major  and  the  captain  had  seen  something  of 
Indian  warfare,  and  the  transition  was  natural  and  easy 
from  the  threatened  danger  of  the  present  to  the  perils 
and  exploits  of  the  past,  each  having  something  to  tell 
of  the  daring  and  bravery  of  the  other. 

At  first  the  stories  were  of  encounters  with  the  red  men 
of  the  woods,  then  revolutionary  scenes  were  recalled. 

"  Major,"  exclaimed  the  captain,  "  do  you  remember 
your  big  Hessian  ?  " 

"  Yes,  perfectly  :  that  is,  his  general  appearance  ;  he 
was  not  near  enough  for  his  features  to  be  very  strongly 
impressed  upon  my  memory." 

"  And  he  has  never  appeared  to  you  ?  "  queried  the 
captain  with  a  laugh. 

"  No,"  returned  the  major,  gazing  meditatively  into 
the  fire  ;  "  what  right  would  he  have  to  haunt  me,  captain, 
seeing  he  was  killed  in  battle  ? " 

"  None,  of  course  ;  and  he  shows  his  sense  of  justice 
in  refraining." 


153  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  What  were  the  circumstances  ? "  inquired  Ken- 
neth, with  interest  which  seemed  to  be  shared  by  all 
present. 

"  It  was  on  one  occasion  when  our  forces  and  those  of 
the  British  were  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  in  full  view  of 
each  other,"  said  the  captain,  "  that  a  big  Hessian  officer 
stepped  out  in  front  of  his  men  and  with  a  good  deal  of 
angry,  excited  gesticulation  and  loud  vociferation  in  his 
barbarous  tongue,  seemed  to  be  defying  the  American 
army  much  as  Goliath  defied  the  armies  of  Israel. 

"  The  impudence  and  effrontery  of  the  thing  roused 
my  ire  ;  I  turned  with  an  indignant  remark  to  the  major 
here,  he  was  only  captain  then,  by  the  way,  but  before 
the  words  had  left  my  lips  he  had  taken  a  gun  from  a 
soldier  and  shot  the  fellow  down  where  he  stood." 

"  Some  of  those  Hessians  were  very  brutal,"  remarked 
Kenneth. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  captain,  "  war  was  their  trade,  and 
what  better  could  one  expect  from  men  who  fought,  not 
for  country  or  for  principle,  but  simply  for  hire  ;  the 
more  shame  to  the  government  that  employed  them 
against  freemen  battling  for  their  liberties  !  " 

"  Yet  preferable,  I  should  say,  to  the  wily  and  treacher- 
ous savages  the  Americans  have  been  accustomed  to 
fighting."  Lyttleton's  tone  was  flippant.  "  I'd  sooner 
encounter  an  infuriated  Hessian,  Frenchman,  any  kind 
of  white  man,  or  even  ghost,  than  a  whooping,  yelling 
painted  savage  on  the  war  path,  as  they  call  it." 

"  That's  an  acknowledgment,"  remarked  the  captain 
dryly  ;  "  especially  in  view  of  the  fact  that  they,  too, 
were  employed  against  us  by  the  mother  country,  as 
Americans  once  delighted  to  call  her." 

"  However,  that  is  all  past,  and   certainly  we  owe  no 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  159 

grudge  to  you,  Lyttleton,"  he  added  turning  toward  the 
latter  with  a  genial  smile. 

"  All  Indians  are  not  cruel  and  treacherous,"  observed 
Nell,  her  fair  cheek  flushing  and  her  violet  eyes  kind- 
ling ;  "  Tecumseh  is  a  noble  exception  ;  Wawillaway 
also  ;  I  would  trust  my  life  in  his  hands  without  the 
slightest  hesitation." 

"  Yes,  Wawillaway  is  a  good  Indian,"  assented  her 
brother  ;  "  has  always  been  friendly  to  the  whites.  Nor 
shall  I  ever  forget  his  good  service  to  you,  Nell." 

The  major  referred  to  the  adventure  with  the  panther, 
which  he  had  related  to  his  guests  on  a  former  occasion  ; 
of  the  more  recent  and  greater  service  rendered  her  by 
her  Indian  friend,  he  knew  nothing. 

Bat  Nell  was  thinking  of  it,  recalling  with  a  slight 
shudder  Wolf's  lecherous  stare ;  her  eyes  were  on  her 
needle-work. 

Kenneth  could  not  see  their  expression,  but  he  won- 
dered at  the  trembling  of  her  slender  fingers  as  she 
drew  the  needle  in  and  out,  and  the  varying  color  on  her 
cheek. 

A  moment  of  silence  following  the  major's  last  remark, 
was  suddenly  broken  by  a  thundering  rap  upon  the 
outer  door. 

All  started  to  their  feet,  with  the  common  thought 
that  the  threatened  danger  had  come,  and  Kenneth  turned 
with  a  quick,  protecting  gesture  toward  Nell,  while 
Lyttleton  glanced  hurriedly  around,  as  if  in  search  of 
some  hiding  place. 

Neither  movement  was  lost  upon  the  young  girl  ;  she 
saw  and  appreciated  both  ;  more  afterward  than  at  the 
moment. 

But  their  alarm  was  groundless.     Tig  had  gone  to  the 


160  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

door  and  a  voice  was  heard  asking  for  Dr.  Clendenin. 
"  What  is  it,  Gotlieb  ? "  he  asked,  stepping  out  to  the 
hall,  and  recognizing  in  the  messenger  a  German  lad 
whose  parents  lived  next  door  to  the  Barbours. 

"  Mine  mudder  she  send  me  for  you,  doctor,  to  goame 
right  quick  to  Meeses  Barbour  ;  she  pees  ferry  seeck." 

Kenneth  had  his  doubts  about  the  correctness  of  the 
report,  yet  nevertheless,  bidding  a  hasty  good-night  to 
his  friends,  hurried  away  with  the  messenger. 

He  found  the  patient  again  in  violent  hysterics,  which 
Gotlieb's  mother  was  vainly  trying  to  relieve. 

"  O  doctor,"  she  cried,  "  it  is  goot  you  haf  come.  I 
know  not  what  to  do  for  dis  womans.  She  schream  and 
she  laf  and  she  gry,  and  I  can't  do  notings  mit  her." 

"  What  caused  this  attack,  Mrs.  Hedwig  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Veil,  doctor,  I  prings  mine  work  to  sit  mit  her,  and  I 
zay  '  I  must  make  dese  flannel  tings  for  mine  childer 
pefore  de  Injuns  comes  ;  pecause  it  pees  very  cold  in  de 
woods  for  mine  Lena,  and  mine  Gotlieb,  and  mine  Karl, 
when  dose  Injuns  take  'em.'  And  just  so  soon  I  say  dat, 
she  pegins  to  schream  and  to  laf  and  to  gry  lige — lige  von 
grazy  womans." 

She  seemed  much  disturbed,  and  alarmed,  inquiring 
anxiously,  "  Do  you  dinks  she  fery  bad  sick,  doctor  ?  vil 
she  die  ? " 

"  Oh  no,"  he  said,  "  she'll  be  over  it  directly." 

"  She  might  have  known  better  than  to  talk  about  the 
Indians  coming.  It  frightens  me  to  death,"  sobbed  the 
invalid  ;  "  and  Tom  was  shamefully  thoughtless  to  send 
such  a  person  in  to  sit  with  me.  He  ought  to  have  stayed 
himself  ;  there  are  plenty  of  other  men  to  work  at  forti- 
fying the  town.  But  nobody  ever  thinks  of  poor  me." 

"  It  would  be  far  better  for  you  if  you  could  forget 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        161 

yourself,  Mrs.  Barbour,"  said  Kenneth.  "  Drink  this,  if 
you  please,  and  then  go  to  sleep." 

"  Go  to  sleep,  indeed,  and  she  sitting  there  working 
on  those  flannel  garments,  just  as  if  the  Indians  would  let 
her  children  live  to  wear  them,  if  they  come." 

It  was  late  when  Kenneth  returned  to  his  office,  and  he 
was  weary  in  mind  and  body  ;  yet  hours  passed  before 
he  retired  to  rest.  His  thoughts  were  full  of  Nell,  going 
over  and  over  each  scene  in  his  life  in  which  she  had 
borne  a  part,  recalling  every  look  she  had  given  him  in 
which  he  had  read  the  sweet  secret  of  her  love,  his  fea- 
tures now  lighted  up  with  joy,  now  distorted  with  pain, 
cold  drops  of  agony  standing  on  his  brow. 

"  What  a  heartless  wretch  must  I  appear  to  her  !  "  he 
groaned,  pacing  his  office  with  folded  arms  and  head 
bowed  upon  his  breast.  "  Oh  my  darling  !  I  would  die 
to  save  you  a  single  pang,  and  yet  I  dare  not  tell  you 
that  I  love  you.  I  must  stand  by  in  silence  and  see 
another  win  you.  Perhaps  even  now  your  love  is  turned 
to  hate,  and  if  it  be  so  I  cannot  blame  you." 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

IT  was  long  past  noon:  the  sun  shone,  but  as  through  a 
veil,  a  soft  October  haze  mellowing  the  brightness  of 
the  beautiful  woods  where  a  solitary  figure,  that  of  a  tall 
Indian,  was  following  the  trail  with  long,  rapid  strides. 

It  was  the  Shawnee  chief  Wawillaway ;  not  on  the 
war  path,  for  though  armed  as  usual  with  gun,  tomahawk 
and  scalping  knife,  no  war  club  was  in  his  hand,  no  paint 
on  his  face. 

He  had  been  on  a  peaceful  errand  to  Old  Town,  to 
dispose  of  his  baskets,  game  and  peltries,  and  was  now 
quietly  wending  his  homeward  way. 

No  report  of  Herrod's  death,  and  the  consequent  ex- 
citement and  alarm  among  the  settlers  in  the  Scioto 
valley,  had  reached  Wawillaway,  and  when  he  saw  three 
white  men,  Wolf  and  two  men  whom  he  had  hired  to 
assist  him  on  his  farm,  coming  toward  him,  no  thought 
of  hostile  intention  on  their  part  or  his  own  was  in  his 
heart. 

They  met  him  in  the  trail  and  he  shook  hands  cor- 
dially with  them,  inquiring  about  their  health  and  that  of 
their  families. 

A  little  talk  followed  and  Wolf  proposed  to  the  chief 
to  exchange  guns,  took  Wawillaway's  on  a  pretence  of 
examining  it  with  a  view  to  purchase,  slyly  blew  out  the 
priming,  and  handing  it  back,  said  he  did  not  care  to 
swap. 

Wawillaway  had  seen  his  treacherous  act,  but   still 


THE  THORN  IN  I'UE  NEST.  163 

unsuspicious,  took  his  own  gun  handing  back  the 
other. 

"  Have  the  Indians  begun  war  ? "  asked  one  of 
Wolf's  companions. 

"  No,  no,"  said  the  chief,  "  the  Indians  and  white 
men  are  all  one  ;  all  brothers  now." 

"  Why,  haven't  you  heard  that  the  Indians  have  killed 
Captain  Herrod  ?  "  asked  Wolf. 

Wawillaway  looked  astonished,  and  incredulous. 

"  No,  no  !  Indian  not  kill  Captain  Herrod,"  he  said. 
"  Captain  Herrod  not  dead  ?  " 

"  Yes,  he  is  ;  it's  certain  that  he  was  found  dead  and 
scalped  in  the  woods  a  few  days  ago,"  said  Wolf. 

"  Maybe  fire  water  ;  too  much  drink  make  fight." 

"  No,  Herrod  hadn't  any  quarrel  with  the  Indians  ;  and 
we  don't  know  which  of  them  killed  him." 

"  Maybe  some  bad  white  man  killed  Captain  Herrod," 
suggested  Wawillaway  ;  then  shaking  hands  all  round 
again,  he  turned  to  go  on  his  way,  when  the  dastardly 
Wolf  shot  him  in  the  back,  mortally  wounding  him. 

The  brave  chieftain,  wounded  as  he  was,  and  deprived 
of  the  use  of  his  gun,  turned  upon  his  cowardly  assail- 
ants with  his  tomahawk,  and  spite  of  the  superiority  of 
numbers,  killed  one,  and  severely  wounded  Wolf  and  the 
others. 

A  distant  sound  of  horses'  hoofs  sent  them  flying  into 
the  woods,  leaving  the  lifeless  body  of  their  comrade,  and 
the  bleeding,  dying  chief  lying  in  the  trail. 

Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  sounds,  and  in  another 
moment  two  farmers  returning  from  Chillicothe  to  their 
homes,  had  come  to  a  sudden  halt  beside  the  prostrate 
forms  and  were  gazing  with  grief,  horror  and  dismay 
upon  the  bloody  scene. 


1 64         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  It's  Wawillaway  !  "  cried  one,  hastily  dismounting 
and  stooping  over  the  chief.  "  Who  can  have  done 
this  cruel,  wicked  deed,  for  he  has  always  been  the 
white  man's  friend  !  Ah,  he's  not  dead,  thank  God  ! 
Come,  Miller,  help  me  to  raise  him  up." 

They  did  so  as  gently  as  possible,  but  life  was  ebbing 
fast;  they  saw  it  in  his  glazing  eye  and  the  clammy  sweat 
upon  his  brow. 

Another  horseman  came  galloping  up  and  drew  rein 
close  at  hand,  then  leaping  to  the  ground  came  hurriedly 
toward  the  little  group. 

"  Dr.  Clendenin,"  cried  Miller,  "  you  have  come  in 
the  nick  of  time  !  " 

"  No,"  sighed  Kenneth,  taking  the  cold  hand  of  the 
chief,  "  he  is  beyond  human  help.  Wawillaway,  my 
poor  friend,  whose  fiendish  work  is  this  ?  " 

With  a  great  effort  the  chief  rallied  his  expiring  ener- 
gies sufficiently  to  tell  in  a  few  broken  sentences,  of  Wolf's 
perfidious  and  cruel  deed,  then  gasped  and  died. 

"  He  is  gone,"  Kenneth  said  in  a  voice  tremulous  and 
husky  with  emotion,  "and  this  foul  deed  of  a  blood- 
thirsty, conscienceless  wretch,  will  in  all  probability  be 
visited  upon  our  infant  settlements  in  a  tempest  of  fire 
and  blood." 

"  Wolf  !  the  scoundrel  is  rightly  named,"  muttered 
Miller  between  his  clenched  teeth.  "  Andrews,"  to  his 
comrade,  "  we  should  be  scouring  the  woods  in  search  of 
him  at  this  moment.  If  we  could  catch  and  deliver  him 
up  to  justice,  it  might  go  far  toward  averting  the  threat- 
ened storm." 

"  Yes,  and  there's  no  time  to  be  lost  ;  but  the  first 
thing  is  to  hurry  home  and  secure  the  safety  of  our 
families." 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  165 

"  The  alarm  should  be  given  at  once  in  Chillicothe," 
said  Kenneth,  hastily  mounting  as  he  spoke  ;  "  that  shall 
be  my  task,  and  doubtless  a  party  will  be  sent  out  at 
once  in  search  of  this  cowardly  villain,  Wolf.17 

In  another  moment  all  three  had  left  the  scene  of  blood 
and  death,  and  were  galloping  furiously  through  the 
woods  ;  the  farmers  toward  their  homes,  Kenneth  in  the 
direction  of  the  town. 

The  sun  had  set  some  time  before,  it  was  already 
growing  dark,  and  when  he  reached  Chillicothe  many  of 
the  people  had  retired  for  the  night. 

Coming  in  at  the  end  of  the  town  farthest  from  Major 
Lamar's  house,  and  stopping  to  call  up  and  consult 
with  several  of  the  other  influential  citizens,  whose  dwell- 
ings lay  between,  he  was  late  in  reaching  it. 

Nell  was  roused  from  her  first  nap  by  a  loud  knock- 
ing on  the  outer  door,  and  a  familiar  voice  calling, 
"  Major  !  " 

She  sprang  to  the  window  and  opened  it. 

"  What  is  it,  doctor  ?  "  she  asked,  her  voice  trembling 
a  little  with  excitement  and  alarm  in  spite  of  herself. 

"  I  am  very  sorry  to  disturb  you,"  he  answered,  some- 
thing in  his  low,  earnest  tones  sending  a  strange  thrill 
through  her  whole  being,  "  but  there  is  not  an  instant  to 
be  lost.  Dear  Miss  Nell,  rouse  the  household  and  dress 
yourself  with  all  haste,  not  forgetting  a  shawl  and  bonnet, 
for  the  night  air  is  chill  in — " 

The  door  opened  at  that  moment  and  the  major's  voice 
was  heard. 

"  What's  wrong  ?    Ah,  is  it  you,  doctor  ?  " 

"  Yes,  major,  Wawillaway  lies  dead  out  yonder  on  the 
trail  to  Old  Town,  slain  treacherously  in  cold  blood, 
by  that  scoundrel  Wolf,  and  of  course  we  may  expect  an 


166  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

attack  from  the  Indians  as  soon  as  they  can  get  here 
after  the  news  reaches  them.  It  has  been  decided  that 
the  women  and  children  shall  be  collected  in  Ferguson's 
house  ;  that  being  the  largest  in  town.  Can  1  be  of  any 
assistance  in  getting  yours  there  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  thank  you.  I'll  have  them  there  directly, 
and  you  will  be  wanting  to  warn  others." 

The  doctor  rode  rapidly  away,  while  the  major  shut 
the  door  and  called  to  his  wife  and  children. 

"  Up  !  dress  yourself  as  fast  as  you  can  !  Nell  !  " 

"  Yes,"  she  answered.     "  I'll  be  there  in  a  moment." 

She  had  heard  all  and  was  hurrying  on  her  clothes 
with  trembling  fingers,  the  tears  rolling  down  her  cheeks. 

"  O  Wawillaway,  Wawillaway,  you  have  died  for  me  !  " 
she  sobbed.  "  O  that  cruel,  cruel  wretch  !  worse  than 
the  wild  beast  that  shares  his  name  !  " 

Sounds  of  commotion  came  from  below,  the  little  ones 
crying,  Clare  calling  in  frightened  tones,  "  Nell,  Nell,  do 
come  help  with  the  children,  if  you  can  !  I  shall  never 
get  them  dressed."  The  servants  added  their  terrified 
clamor,  as  they  rushed  hither  and  thither  in  obedience  to 
the  orders  of  master  or  mistress,  collecting  such  articles 
of  value  or  necessity  as  could  be  thought  of  and  found  in 
the  hurry  and  alarm  of  the  moment. 

The  major  alone  preserved  his  calmness  and  presence 
of  mind,  and  thus  was  able  to  control  and  direct  the 
others. 

At  Clare's  call  Nell  dashed  away  her  tears,  snatched 
up  hat  and  shawl  and  ran  down-stairs. 

"  Dressed  !  "  said  Clare.  "  You've  been  very  quick. 
Now  help  with  the  children.  They're  too  frightened  or 
too  sleepy  to  get  into  their  clothes,  and  Maria's  so 
scared  she's  of  no  use  whatever." 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         167 

"  Calm  yourselves,  wife  and  sister,"  said  the  major, 
coming  from  an  adjoining  room.  "  We  must  put  our 
trust  in  God,  who  we  know  will  not  suffer  any  real  evil  to 
befall  His  people  ;  and  the  Indians  can  hardly  reach  the 
town  under  an  hour  or  two  at  the  very  earliest." 

His  words  and  the  quiet  composure  with  which  they 
were  uttered  had  a  soothing  effect  upon  the  ladies, 
calming  their  agitation  and  reviving  their  courage. 

In  a  very  short  time  the  whole  family  were  in  the  street 
rapidly  winding  their  way  to  Mr.  Ferguson's,  toward 
which  terrified  women  and  children  were  now  hurrying 
from  every  quarter. 

The  town  was  thoroughly  awake  ;  lights  gleamed  in  all 
the  houses,  and  every  possible  preparation  was  being 
made  to  receive  and  repel  the  expected  attack.  Sentinels 
were  posted,  and  an  old  man  who  had  served  as  drummer 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  was  appointed  to  give  the  signal, 
the  roll  of  the  drum,  should  the  enemy  be  seen 
approaching. 

As  the  major  and  his  family  neared  the  place  of  ren- 
dezvous, they  fell  in  with  Captain  Bernard  and  Lyttleton, 
who  followed  them  into  the  house  inquiring  if  there  were 
anything  they  could  do  to  make  the  ladies  more  comfort- 
able. 

As  the  light  of  a  candle  burning  in  the  hall  fell  on 
Nell's  face,  Lyttleton  saw  the  traces  of  tears  on  her 
cheeks  and  bright  drops  still  shining  in  her  eyes. 

"  Do  not  be  too  greatly  alarmed  ;  doubtless  we  shall 
succeed  in  keeping  the  savages  at  bay,"  he  whispered 
protectingly.  "  I  have  a  brace  of  pistols  here,  and  you 
may  rest  assured  will  make  your  safety  my  special 
charge." 

"  I  am  not  afraid,"  she  said,  drawing  herself  up  slightly, 


1 68         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

while  the  color  deepened  on  her  cheek — "  no,  I  believe  I 
am  ;  but  it  is  not  that  that  causes  my  tears  ;  "  and  they 
burst  forth  afresh  as  she  spoke. 

"  What  then  ?  "  he  asked  in  surprise. 

"  I  weep  for  my  friend,  my  poor  murdered  friend, 
lying  stiff  and  stark  yonder  in  the  woods,"  and  the  tears 
fell  like  rain. 

"  What,  the  Indian  ! "  he  exclaimed  in  utter  amaze- 
ment. 

"  Yes,  for  Wawillaway.  Did  he  not  save  my  life  ? 
Yes,  twice  he  has  rescued  me  from  a  wild  beast,  first  a 
panther,  then  a  Wolf,"  she  said  with  a  shudder. 

"  Aunt  Nell,  Aunt  Nell,  I  so  sleepy,  I  so  tired,"  sobbed 
little  Bertie,  her  three  year  old  nephew  and  especial  pet ; 
"please  sit  down  and  take  me  in  your  lap." 

She  had  the  child  by  the  hand  ;  the  crowd  was  pushing 
them  on  ;  was  between  them  and  the  rest  of  the  family, 
and  now  separated  her  from  Lyttleton. 

"  Oh,  here  you  are  !  come  this  way,"  the  major  said, 
appearing  in  an  open  doorway  at  the  end  of  the  hall ; 
and  snatching  up  Bertie,  he  hurried  back  into  the  large 
living  room,  Nell  following. 

Tig  had  brought  a  great  armful  of  buffalo  robes,  deer 
and  bearskins,  of  which  he  was  making  a  very  comfortable 
couch  in  one  corner,  under  the  direction  of  his  mistress. 

Clare  soon  had  the  children  laid  upon  it,  and  snugly 
covered  up  with  shawls.  She  then  sat  down  beside  them 
with  her  babe  in  her  arms. 

"  Can't  you  lie  down  too,  Nell  ?  "  she  said.  "  There's 
room  enough,  and  you'd  better  sleep  while  you  can." 

"That  is  not  now,"  Nell  answered  with  a  sigh,  "but  I 
will  sit  down  here  beside  Bertie." 

She  seated  herself  on  the   farther  side  from  Clare, 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  169 

where  her  face  was  in  shadow,  and  little  Bertie  laid  his 
head  in  her  lap. 

She  bent  over  him,  softly  stroking  his  hair  and  drop- 
ping silent  tears  upon  it.  She  could  not  forget  Wawil- 
laway. 

The  room  ;  the  house  ;  was  full  of  terrified  women  and 
children — many  of  the  latter  crying  violently  from  dis- 
comfort and  fright,  while  the  tearful,  trembling  mothers 
vainly  strove  to  soothe  and  comfort  them. 

Mrs.  Barbour,  occupying  a  distant  part  of  the  same 
room  with  the  Lamars,  paid  small  attention  to  hers  ; 
being  too  much  taken  up  with  her  own  feelings,  too  busy 
bewailing  her  hard  fate,  somehow  much  more  to  be  com- 
miserated than  that  of  any  other  person  present,  and 
now  and  then  going  off  into  a  violent  fit  of  hysterics. 

Mrs.  Nash  was  there,  quiet,  patient,  cheerful,  doing  the 
best  to  allay  her  sister-in-law's  excitement  and  alarm,  and 
that  of  her  own  and  her  brother's  children  ;  nor  were  her 
kind  ministrations  entirely  confined  to  them  ;  she  con- 
trived to  speak  words  of  hope  and  cheer  to  others  also. 

The  room  was  dimly  lighted  by  a  candle  burning  on  a 
table  which  had  been  pushed  into  a  corner  to  be  out  of 
the  way  of  the  numerous  beds  spread  upon  the  floor. 

Mrs.  Hedwig  placed  her  two  younger  children  under 
this  table,  bidding  them  "  Go  to  shleep  and  nefer  fear 
dose  Inguns  ;  your  mutter  vil  pe  right  here  and  take  care 
off  you  ;  "  then  getting  possession  of  a  chair,  she  sat 
down  close  beside  them,  drew  the  candle  near  her, 
snuffed  it  carefully,  opened  a  bundle  she  had  brought 
with  her,  and  began  sewing  most  industriously. 

"  How  can  you,  Mrs.  Hedwig?  "  cried  Mrs.  Barbour  : 
"  you're  the  most  cold-blooded  creature  I  ever  saw  !  " 

"  Dish  ish  flannel  to  keeps  mine  childer  warm  ;    mine 


170  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

childer  must  haf  dese  flannel  tings  to  wear  in  de  woods 
mit  de  Inguns,"  explained  the  German  woman,  dashing 
away  a  tear.  "  But  I  hopes  dose  Inguns  nefer  gets  here 
to  shteal  mine  leetle  dears." 

"  If  they  do  come,  they'll  kill  a  good  many  more  than 
they  steal,"  sobbed  another  woman.  "  Oh,  dear,  oh,  dear  ! 
if  our  men  only  had  plenty  of  ammunition  it  wouldn't 
seem  half  so  bad  !  " 

"  Do  stop  such  doleful  talk,  all  of  you,"  said  Mrs. 
Nash.  "  You'll  frighten  the  poor  children  to  death." 

"  Where  are  the  men  ?  what's  become  of  my  Tom  ? " 
fretted  Mrs.  Barbour. 

"  The  men  are  doing  their  duty,"  answered  Mrs.  Nash  ; 
"  some  are  guarding  this  house,  some  posted  as  sentinels 
on  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  others  collecting  bows  and 
arrows,  clubs,  knives,  tomahawks,  anything  they  can  fight 
with,  or  putting  their  valuables  in  some  place  of  safety." 

"  And  they  have  sent  out  a  party  in  search  of  Wolf," 
added  Mrs.  Lamar.  "  I  heard  the  major  and  Captain 
Bernard  speaking  of  it  ;  and  if  they  can  catch  the  wretch 
they  will  hang  him,  or  give  him  up  to  the  Indians  and 
let  them  wreak  their  vengence  on  him,  as  in  justice  they 
should,  instead  of  on  the  innocent." 

"  Let  us  trust  in  the  Lord  and  try  to  sleep,"  said  a 
pious  old  lady  who  had  laid  herself  calmly  down  beside 
her  grandchildren.  "  We  need  rest  to  strengthen  us  for 
the  morrow's  duties  and  trials  ;  most  of  us  profess  to  be 
Christians,  and  why  should  we  not  be  able  to  feel  that 
we  are  safe  in  our  Father's  hands  ? 

"  '  Not  walls  nor  hills  could  guard  so  well 

Old  Salem's  happy  ground  ; 
As  those  eternal  arms  of  love 
That  every  saint  surrroui.d.'  " 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         171 

A  silence  fell  upon  the  room  as  the  sweet  old  voice 
ceased,  even  Mrs.  Barbour  being  shamed  into  momen- 
tary quiet. 

Clare  laid  her  babe  down,  stretched  herself  beside  it 
and  the  older  children,  and  her  regular  breathing  soon 
told  that  she  slept. 

But  Nell  still  sat  with  Bertie's  head  in  her  lap,  her 
face  hidden  in  her  hands,  while  tears  trickled  between 
the  white  slender  fingers,  for  her  thoughts  had  gone 
back  to  her  murdered  friend. 

"  I  shall  never  see  him  again  in  this  world,"  she  was 
saying  to  herself,  "  and  oh,  shall  I  meet  him  in  another  ? 
Why,  why  did  I  never  speak  to  him  of  Jesus  ?  Now  it  is 
too  late,  too  late  !  " 

Some  one  sat  down  beside  her  and  a  voice  said  in  low, 
rich  tones,  "  I  will  not  be  afraid  of  ten  thousands  of 
people,  that  have  set  themselves  against  me  round 
about  !  Dear  Miss  Nell,  some  trust  in  chariots  and  some 
in  horses  ;  but  we  will  remember  the  name  of  the  Lord 
our  God." 

"  Thank  you,"  she  said,  uncovering  her  face  and 
hastily  wiping  away  her  tears,  "  but  oh,  it  is  not  that, 
not  fear  of  the  Indians,"  she  sobbed,  the  tears  bursting 
forth  afresh.  "  Dr.  Clendenin,  you  have  not  forgotten 
what  I  owe  to  Wawillaway,  and  you  know  but  the  half  !  " 

"  I  know  that  he  saved  you  from  the  panther,"  he  said 
with  a  look  of  surprise. 

"  Yes  ;  and  from  I  know  not  what  at  the  hands  of  this 
very  ruffian,  Wolf."  And  in  a  brief  sentence  or  two  she 
told  of  her  danger  and  her  escape,  adding  with  a  low 
cry  of  pain,  "  And  oh,  I  fear  that  it  was  in  revenge  for  this 
that  poor  Wawillaway  was  slain.  He  has  died  for  me  !  " 

Kenneth     was    much    moved,     indignation     against 


172  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Wolf,  gratitude  for  the  fair  girl's  rescue,  admiration  of 
the  brave  chieftain,  grief  for  his  sad  end,  contending  for 
the  mastery  in  his  breast. 

"  The  wretch  !  "  he  said,  "  he  is  not  worthy  to  live  ! 
He  has  killed  a  better  man  than  himself.  I  too,  grieve 
for  Wawillaway.  But,  Miss  Nell,  you  are  looking  sorely 
in  need  of  rest ;  as  your  physician  I  prescribe  a  few 
hours  of  sleep." 

He  gently  lifted  the  curly  head  from  her  lap  to  the 
couch,  and  bade  her  lie  down  beside  the  child. 

"  The  major  is  with  the  party  who  are  in  pursuit  of 
the  assassin,  and  has  left  you  and  the  rest  of  the  family 
in  my  care ;  so  that  his  authority  is  vested  in  me  for 
to-night,  in  addition  to  that  which  I  may  lawfully  claim 
as  medical  adviser,"  he  said  with  one  of  his  rare  sweet 
smiles,  "  so  do  not  venture  to  disobey  my  order,  fair 
lady,  and,"  he  added  in  a  still  lower  whisper,  "  let  me 
give  you  this  for  a  pillow  to  rest  your  weary  head  upon  : 
*  I  will  both  lay  me  down  in  peace  and  sleep  :  for  thou, 
Lord,  only  makest  me  dwell  in  safety.' " 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

OVERCOME  with  grief  and  weariness  Nell  unconsciously 
obeyed  orders  ere  many  minutes  had  passed,  and  as  the 
hours  dragged  on  bringing  no  new  cause  of  alarm,  very 
many  followed  her  example,  even  Mrs.  Barbour  at  length 
succumbing  to  the  spell  of  tired  Nature's  sweet  restorer. 

They  had  a  rude  awaking.  With  the  first  streak  of 
dawn  in  the  east,  the  sudden,  loud  roll  of  the  drum 
burst  upon  the  startled  air  ; — the  appointed  signal  of  the 
near  approach  of  their  savage  foe. 

Women  and  children  sprang  up  with  wild  shrieks  and 
cries  of  terror  and  despair.  Kenneth,  who  had  been 
pacing  the  hall,  a  self-appointed  sentry,  stepped  hastily 
in  at  the  door  of  the  room  where  the  Lamars  were,  his 
eyes  turning  anxiously  toward  their  corner  of  it. 

Mrs.  Lamar  sat  on  the  side  of  the  couch,  trembling 
with  agitation,  clasping  her  babe  close  to  her  breast 
and  trying  to  soothe  the  older  ones,  who  were  cling- 
ing about  her,  with  the  exception  of  Bertie  whom 
Nell,  deathly  pale,  but  calm  and  quiet,  was  sheltering 
in  her  arms. 

Watching  her  with  telltale  eyes,  Kenneth  essayed  to 
speak  ;  but  could  not  make  his  voice  heard  amid  the 
weeping  and  wailing. 

"  O  doctor,  save  me,  save  me  !  "  shrieked  Mrs.  Bar- 
bour, rushing  toward  him  with  outstretched  arms  and 
streaming  eyes.  "  I'll  be  the  first  they'll  attack  ;  I  know 
I  will,  and  Tom  isn't  here  to  take  care  of  me." 


174  THE   THORN  IN  7'HE  A'EST. 

"  Yes,  he  is,"  shouted  Mr.  Barbour  hurrying  in,  "  yes, 
he  is,  Nancy  ;  though  there's  no  great  occasion,  for  it's 
a  false  alarm,  all  a  mistake.  The  Indians  are  as  much 
scared  as  we  are,  and  are  running  the  other  way." 

The  excitement  toned  down  rapidly  while  he  spoke, 
and  now  the  room  was  nearly  quiet,  all  who  were  old 
enough  to  understand  being  eager  to  catch  every  word. 

"  God  be  praised,"  ejaculated  Kenneth  fervently. 
"  But  the  signal,  why  was  it  given  ?  " 

"  Ah,"  said  Barbour,  smiling,  "  our  old  friend  had 
gone  back,  in  feeling  at  least,  to  old  revolutionary 
times  and  could  not  refrain  from  sounding  the  reveille." 

"  'Twas  just  good  sport  for  him,  no  doubt,  to  frighten  a 
parcel  of  poor  women  and  children  nearly  out  of  their 
wits  !  "  was  Mrs.  Barbour's  indignant  comment. 

"  Not  at  all,"  said  her  husband ;  "  he  thought  every 
body  would  understand  it." 

Mothers  caressed  their  little  ones  with  murmured 
words  of  joy  and  thankfulness,  feeling  as  if  they  had 
been  suddenly  rescued  from  impending  horrible  death, 
or  captivity  hardly  less  to  be  feared  ;  neighbors  and 
friends  shook  hands  or  embraced  with  mingled  smiles 
and  tears,  congratulating  each  other  that  they  were,  after 
all,  in  no  immediate  danger. 

The  party  sent  in  search  of  Wolf  returned  without 
him  ;  he  had  made  good  his  escape  from  that  part  of 
the  country. 

There  was  a  large  body  of  Indians  at  that  time  near 
Greenville,  and  to  them  Chillicothe  presently  sent  a 
deputation  of  her  prominent  citizens. 

The  Indians,  among  whom  was  the  celebrated  chief, 
Tecumseh,  gathered  in  their  council  house,  received  the 
white  men  and  listened  to  their  account  of  the  late 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         175 

unfortunate  occurrence,  their  detestation  of  Wolf's  bloody 
deed,  their  ineffectual  efforts  to  catch  him,  and  determi- 
nation to  put  him  to  death  if  ever  they  could  secure  his 
person. 

The  Indians  replied  that  they  knew  nothing  of  these 
matters  and  desired  to  remain  at  peace  with  the  whites, 
and  finally  Tecumseh  and  some  others  of  the  chiefs  were 
persuaded  to  return  with  the  deputation,  and  repeat  these 
assurances  to  the  people  of  Chillicothe  and  its  vicinity. 

A  day  was  appointed,  and  the  people  gathered,  an 
immense  throng,  to  look  upon  and  listen  to  the  great 
Shawnee  chief. 

Major  Lamar,  his  wife  and  sister  were  there  ;  the  older 
children  too,  for  the  major  said  it  would  be  something 
for  them  to  remember  all  their  lives. 

Captain  Bernard  and  Lyttleton  contrived  to  be  near 
the  Lamars,  the  latter  close  at  Nell's  side,  leaning  over 
her  now  and  then,  with  an  air  of  devotion  and  proprietor- 
ship exceedingly  distasteful  to  Kenneth,  who  furtively 
watched  them  from  afar. 

But  when  Tecumseh's  tall,  commanding  figure  stood 
before  them,  and  he  began  to  speak,  every  eye  turned 
toward  him,  every  ear  was  intent  to  listen  to  his  voice 
and  that  of  his  interpreter,  a  white  man  who  had  been  a 
prisoner  among  the  Indians. 

Even  as  translated  the  speech  was  full  of  eloquent 
passages.  He  spoke  in  the  strongest  terms  of  the 
friendly  relations  existing  between  the  whites  and  the 
Indians  ;  said  they  were  brothers,  and  that  the  Indians 
would  never  violate  their  treaty.  He  hoped  both  parties 
would  abide  by  it  forever,  and  the  peace  and  brotherly  love 
between  them  be  as  lasting  as  time.  A  shaking  of  hands 
followed  the  speech,  and  the  throng  quietly  dispersed. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  Indian  sachems  departed,  and  life  in  Chillicothe 
fell  back  into  its  accustomed  grooves. 

Captain  Bernard  left  for  his  Virginia  home,  but 
Lyttleton  remained  a  boarder  at  the  General  Anthony 
Wayne,  a  self-appointed  spy  upon  Kenneth's  movements, 
and  very  frequent  visitor  to  the  hospitable  dwelling  of 
Major  Lamar. 

He  continued  to  be  a  favorite  with  Clare,  but  found 
scant  favor  with  Nell,  whose  politeness  was  sometimes 
freezing,  while  at  others  she  would  be  only  tolerably 
gracious.  She  was  constantly  comparing  him,  and  always 
to  his  disadvantage,  with  Dr.  Clendenin. 

Lyttleton  was  handsome,  polished,  and  an  accom- 
plished conversationalist,  but  Kenneth  was  fully  his 
equal  in  these  respects,  and  oh,  how  much  more  noble, 
brave  and  true  ;  what  an  earnest,  unselfish,  useful  life  he 
led  ;  how  different  from  that  of  this  gay  idler  who 
seemed  to  have  no  thought  of  anything  but  his  own  ease 
and  pleasure  ! 

She  had  about  made  up  her  mind  that  Lyttleton  was  a 
coward,  too,  remembering  how  pale  he  had  turned  on  his 
first  sight  of  Wawillaway,  and  having  heard  that  he 
showed  great  agitation  at  the  roll  of  the  drum  which  so 
frightened  the  women  and  children  with  its  false  alarm 
that  the  Indians  were  almost  upon  them. 

And  nothing  else  so  excited  Nell's  scorn  and  contempt 
as  cowardice  in  a  man. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  177 

Besides  he  now  and  then  indulged  in  some  remark 
disparaging  to  Kenneth,  insinuating  that  he  was  of  low 
birth  and  connections,  less  highly  educated  than  himself, 
unskillful  in  his  profession,  pharisaical  in  his  religion,  and 
wanting  in  ease  and  refinement  of  manner. 

All  utterly  false,  as  Nell  knew  ;  and  she  never  failed 
to  retort  with  cutting  sarcasm,  stinging  rebuke,  or  a 
panegyric  upon  Dr.  Clendenin  so  warm  and  earnest  that 
she  recalled  it  afterward  with  burning  blushes. 

What  if  her  words  should  reach  Dr.  Clendenin's  ears  ! 
What  would  he  think  of  her,  for  with  a  sore  heart  she 
was  compelled  to  acknowledge  to  herself  that  eloquently 
as  his  eyes  had  spoken  once  and  again,  his  lips  had 
never  yet  breathed  one  word  of  love  to  her ;  and 
not  for  worlds  would  she  have  him  think  she  cared  for 
him. 

But  there  was  no  danger  that  Lyttleton  would  report 
their  conversation  ;  he  would  be  loth  indeed  to  give 
Kenneth  the  pleasure  of  knowing  how  high  he  stood  in 
Miss  Lamar's  estimation,  nor  would  he  dare  repeat  his 
own  base  innuendoes.  It  dawned  upon  him  at  length  that 
depreciation  of  his  rival  was  not  the  best  means  of 
ingratiating  himself  into  the  fair  girl's  favor,  and  he 
changed  his  tactics,  avoiding  as  far  as  possible  all  men- 
tion of  Dr.  Clendenin's  name  in  her  presence. 

But  she  neither  forgot  nor  forgave  what  he  had  already 
said,  and  in  revenge  threw  out  an  occasional  hint  that 
she  had  grave  doubts  of  his  own  bravery,  while  at  the 
same  time  she  lauded  that  of  Dr.  Clendenin  to  the  skies. 

Lyttleton  was  deeply  mortified  and  cast  about  in  his 
mind  for  some  way  of  proving  to  her  that  he  was  not 
wanting  in  the  manly  attribute  of  courage. 

"  You  seem  to  have  an  unbounded  confidence  in  Dr. 


178  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Clendenin's  valor,"  he  said  one  day  in  a  tone  of  pique  ; 
"  pray  tell  me  what  he  has  ever  done  to  prove  it  ?  " 

"  With  pleasure,"  she  answered  in  grave,  sweet  accents, 
but  with  kindling  eyes  and  a  slight  smile  hovering  about 
the  lips,  "  I  have  seen  it  tried,  or  known  it  to  be  so,  in  many 
ways  during  the  several  years  of  our  acquaintance  ; — in 
unhesitating  exposure  to  contagious  disease,  in  encoun- 
ters with  the  fierce  wild  beasts  of  our  hills  and  forests,  in 
long  lonely  journeys  out  into  the  wilderness,  all  endured 
without  flinching. 

"  So  much  for  his  physical  courage.  His  moral  courage 
is  fully  equal  to  it.  He  is  not  afraid  or  ashamed  to  show 
his  colors,  to  stand  by  his  principles,  to  acknowledge  his 
allegiance  to  his  divine  Master  by  work  or  act,  in  what- 
ever company  he  finds  himself.  He  is  not  afraid  of  ridi- 
cule, of  taunts  or  jeers,  and  I  am  sure  would  never  hesi- 
tate to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  downtrodden  and 
oppressed." 

"  I  hate  cant,"  said  Lyttleton,  coloring,  "  and  never 
could  abide  these  people  who  set  themselves  up  as  so 
much  better  than  their  neighbors." 

"  I  entirely  agree  in  those  sentiments,"  replied  Nell, 
"and  so  would  Dr.  Clendenin.  He  never  obtrudes  his 
sentiments  or  talks  cant ;  and  has  a  very  humble  opinion 
of  himself ;  yet  his  life  is  such,  so  pure,  earnest,  self- 
denying  and  useful,  that  no  one  is  left  in  doubt  as  to 
whose  servant  he  is  :  and  oh,  he  knows  how  to  speak 
words  of  comfort  and  hope  to  the  weak  and  weary,  the  sin- 
burdened  and  sorrowing  !  " 

"  And  permit  me  to  add,  is  most  fortunate  in  having 
secured  so  fair  and  eloquent  an  advocate,"  returned 
Lyttleton  with  a  bow  and  a  mocking  smile  ;  "  yet  I  must 
beg  to  be  excused  for  my  inability  to  see  in  him  th«* 


THE  THORN  IK  THE  NEST.         179 

paragon  of  perfection  your  rose-colored  glasses  would 
make  him." 

"  If  my  glasses  are  rose-colored,  permit  me  to  say, 
yours  are  evidently  begrimed  with  London  smoke," 
retorted  Nell. 

"  You  hate  me  because  I  am  an  Englishman,"  he  said 
gloomily  ;  "  and  it  is  most  unjust,  since  I  had  personally 
nothing  whatever  to  do  with  what  you  Americans  are 
pleased  to  style  the  oppressions  of  the  mother  country." 

"  No,  I  don't  think  I  absolutely  hate  you,  Mr.  Lyttle- 
ton,"  she  said  meditatively,  staying  her  needle  in  mid  air 
for  an  instant;  "  on  the  contrary  I  have  occasionally  found 
your  society  not  at  all  disagreeable  ;  but,"  and  the  needle 
again  went  swiftly  in  and  out,  while  her  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  her  work,  "  I  think  if  I  were  in  need  of  a  protector 
from — any  great  immediate  danger — an  expected  attack 
by  hostile  Indians  for  instance,  I  should  prefer  one  of  my 
countrymen  by  my  side." 

"  Now,  Nell,  that  was  really  too  bad,"  remarked  Clare, 
after  Lyttleton  had  gone.  "  The  English  are  hardly  less 
brave  as  a  nation  than  ourselves." 

"  Of  course,  I  don't  deny  that,  but  he's  an  exception, 
and  deserving  of  all  and  more  than  I  gave  him  for  his 
mean  way  of  depreciating  a — " 

"  An  absent  rival,"  put  in  Clare  with  a  laugh,  as  Nell 
paused  for  an  appellation  suited  to  Kenneth's  worth. 
"  Really  I  think  you  might  forgive  his  evident  jealousy, 
which  is  certainly  flattering  to  you." 

"  No,  not  a  rival  but  a  far  better  and  nobler  man  than 
himself,"  said  the  girl,  the  rose  deepening  on  her 
cheek. 

Lyttleton  went  away  full  of  anger  and  chagrin,  and  lay 
awake  half  the  night  trying  to  contrive  some  means  of 


I  So  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

convincing  Miss  Lamar  that  no  more  valiant  man  than 
himself  was  anywhere  to  be  found. 

He  summoned  his  German  valet  at  an  unusually  early 
hour  the  next  morning. 

"  Hans,"  said  he,  while  the  man  was  busied  about  his 
person,  "  you  are  from  Hesse,  I  think,  and  were  over  here 
during  the  war  ?  " 

"  Yass,  mynheer,  that  ish  so  ;  but  I  dells  it  not  to  dese 
peobles." 

"  No  ;  of  course  not  ;  and  you  need  not  fear  that  I 
shall  betray  you.  But  your  experience  may  enable  you 
to  be  of  use  to  me  in  a  new  capacity." 

"  Vat  ish  dot,  mynheer  ?  " 

"  Have  patience,  Hans,  and  I  will  explain  all  in  good 
time.  Were  you  an  officer  ?  " 

"  Nine,  nine,  mynheer ;  not  so  goot  as  dot ;  vat  you 
galls  a  brivateer  ?  " 

"  A  private,  you  blockhead,"  corrected  Lyttleton,  with 
a  laugh.  "  Well,  I  wish  you  had  been  higher,  though," 
he  added  meditatively.  "  If  I  could  but  get  hold  of  the 
uniform  of  a  Hessian  officer,  it  would  not  matter  now." 

"  Veil,  mynheer,  an'  you  gan  keep  von  leedle  segret,  I 
dinks  dot  gan  be  found  ?  " 

"  What !  here  in  this  little  out  of  the  way  village  ? " 

Hans  nodded  wisely.  "Yaas,  I  finds  him  pooty 
quick." 

"  If  you  will  do  so  and  will  make  use  of  it  as  I  direct," 
said  Lyttleton,  "  you  shall  be  handsomely  paid  for  your 
trouble.  And  may  rest  assured  that  I  will  never  betray 
your  secret." 

"  Veil  den,  mynheer,  I  dell  you,  and  I  porrows  de  gloes, 
and  does  de  work.  Karl  Hedwig  was  in  de  war,  an — vat 
you  call  it  ?  " 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        l8l 

Officer  ? " 

"  Yaas,  and  he's  got  de  soldier  gloes." 

"Now?    Here?" 

Hans  answered  in  the  affirmative,  going  on  to  explain 
that  Hedwig,  whom  he  recognized  as  an  old  acquaint- 
ance, and  his  former  superior  in  the  army,  had  begged 
of  him  not  to  divulge  the  fact  that  he  had  served 
against  the  Americans  :  fearing  that  it  would  render 
him  unpopular  ;  but  doubtless  if  it  could  be  done  with- 
out incurring  that  risk,  he  would  lend  his  uniform  for  a 
consideration. 

Lyttleton  authorized  Hans  to  hire  it  for  the  winter, 
naming  a  liberal  sum  and  enjoining  secrecy. 

"  I  expect  to  find  use  for  it  one  of  these  days  or  nights^ 
which  is  all  you  need  to  know  at  present,"  he  concluded. 

Hans  promised  to  attend  to  the  commission  promptly, 
and  with  due  care  that  none  should  know  of  it  save  Hed- 
wig and  himself. 

Godfrey  Dale  ran  in  to  Major  Lamar's  that  morning, 
directly  after  breakfast,  to  say  that  the  young  people 
were  getting  up  a  riding  party  for  that  afternoon,  and  to 
ask  Nell  if  he  might  be  her  escort. 

"  You  must  please  excuse  my  coming  at  so  early  an 
hour,"  he  said,  with  a  mischievous  smile  ;  "  it  was  in  order 
to  forestall  the  Englishman,  who  almost  monopolizes  you 
of  late,  it  seems  to  me." 

"  No,  he  does  not,"  said  Nell,  looking  but  ill  pleased. 
"  He  is  here  a  great  deal,  I  know,  but  I  cannot  forbid  him 
the  house." 

"  I  left  him  in  Clendenin's  office,"  remarked  Dale. 
"  He  is  generally  to  be  found  there  when  he  is  not  here  ; 
seems  to  admire  the  doctor  prodigiously,  tells  me  he  has 
conceived  a  very  warm  friendship  for  him." 


1 82  THP.   THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Then  he  is  an  arrant  hypocrite  !  "  exclaimed  Nell, 
her  eyes  flashing  with  indignation.  "  He  is  always  say- 
ing or  hinting  disparaging  things  of  him  to  me." 

Dale  looked  surprised,  then  angry,  then  laughed 
lightly. 

"  To  you,  Miss  Nell  ?  Well,  I  suppose  he  dreads 
Clendenin's  rivalry,  and  thinks  all  is  fair  in  love." 

"  I  shall  think  but  ill  of  you,  Mr.  Dale,  if  you  uphold 
him  on  any  such  plea  as  that,'-'  Nell  said  with  vexation. 

"  Uphold  him  ?  No,  indeed,  Miss  Nell.  I  only  wish 
to  be  as  charitable  as  the  case  will  allow." 


CHAPTER  XX. 

NIGHT  was  closing  in  dark  and  stormy  after  a  day  of 
clouds  and  incessant  rain,  mingled  with  sleet  and  snow  ; 
the  wild  November  wind  swept  madly  through  the  streets, 
whistled,  shrieked  and  roared  in  the  wide  chimneys  and 
through  the  forests,  bending  the  trees  with  its  furious 
blast,  and  causing  a  solitary  horseman  to  bow  his  head 
almost  to  the  saddle  bow  in  the  vain  effort  to  shield  his 
face  from  the  fierceness  of  its  wrath. 

"  Courage,  my  brave  Romeo,  this  has  been  a  hard  day 
for  you  and  me,  but  rest  and  shelter  and  food  are  not  far 
off  now,"  he  said,  patting  the  neck  of  his  steed  with 
gentle,  caressing  hand,  as  a  temporary  lull  succeeded  a 
more  than  ordinarily  fierce  onset.  They  had  crossed 
the  last  prairie,  threaded  the  mazes  of  the  last  forest,  and 
were  close  upon  the  outskirts  of  the  town. 

It  had,  indeed,  been  a  hard  day,  and  the  doctor  was 
cold,  wet  and  hungry  ;  icicles  had  gathered  on  hair  and 
beard,  and  the  heavy  overcoat  he  threw  off  on  entering 
his  office  was  stiff  with  frozen  rain. 

Zeb  had  a  bright  fire  blazing,  and  on  his  master's 
entrance  hastily  lighted  a  candle  and  set  it  on  the  table. 

"Ah,  this  looks  comfortable,"  said  Kenneth,  shaking 
off  the  icicles  and  drawing  near  the  fire.  "  Hurry,  Zeb, 
and  attend  to  Romeo.  But  first,  has  any  one  called  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sah  ;  de  major  lef  word  you  please  step  roun' 
dar  ;  one  ob  de  chillen  sick." 

"  Much  the  matter,  Zeb  ?  " 


1 84  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Dunuo,  massa  doctah  ;  'spec'  you  kin  tell  best  'bout 
dat  when  you  gets  dar ;  yah,  yah,"  and  Zeb  vanished. 

I  think  Kenneth  sighed  a  little  inwardly,  and  cast  a 
somewhat  regretful  look  upon  the  comforts  he  was  leav- 
ing behind,  as  he  made  ready  again  to  face  the  storm, 
donning  a  fur  cap  and  a  camelot  cloak  which  he  took 
down  from  a  nail  in  the  wall. 

As  he  threw  it  off  in  the  hall  at  Major  Lamar's,  the 
parlor  door  opened  and  a  sweet  voice  said,  "  Come  in, 
doctor.  It  was  really  almost  too  bad  to  ask  you  to  come 
through  this  storm,  and  I  think  my  brother  regrets  having 
done  so  ;  for  little  Bertie  does  not  seem  to  be  seriously 
ill  now,  though  some  hours  ago  he  had  quite  a  fever." 

"  Ah,  I  am  glad  to  hear  so  good  a  report,"  Kenneth 
said,  taking  the  soft  white  hand  held  out  to  him,  and 
smiling  down  into  the  violet  eyes.  "  But  what  sort  of 
doctor  should  you  think  me  if  I  were  afraid  to  face  wind, 
rain  and  sleet  at  the  call  of  sickness  ? " 

"  Come  to  the  fire  and  warm  your  hands,"  she  said 
lightly,  ignoring  his  query  ;  "  they  are  much  too  cold  for 
the  handling  of  my  pet  boy." 

"  You  are  right,"  he  returned,  holding  them  over  the 
blaze. 

They  stood  there  side  by  side  for  several  minutes, 
chatting  on  indifferent  topics,  the  weather,  the  state  of 
the  roads,  cases  of  sickness  in  the  town. 

He  thought  he  had  never  seen  her  look  so  lovely,  the 
beautiful,  abundant  hair  gleaming  like  gold  in  the 
glancing  firelight,  the  full,  red  lips,  the  large  liquid  eyes, 
so  intensely  blue,  that  now  looked  half  shyly  into  his, 
now  drooped  till  the  heavy  silken  fringes  swept  the 
fair  cheek  whereon  the  soft  color  came  and  went  with 
every  breath. 


THE   THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  185 

Her  dress  was  simple,  but  extremely  becoming,  plain 
gray  in  color,  made  with  a  long  full  skirt  that  fell  in 
soft  folds  about  her  graceful  figure,  and  neatly-fitting 
bodice,  edged  at  neck  and  wrists  with  ruffles  of  delicate 
lace. 

Her  only  ornaments  were  a  knot  of  pale  blue  ribbon  in 
her  hair  and  another  at  her  throat. 

She  was  in  one  of  her  gentlest,  most  lovable  moods, 
and  he  could  scarce  control  the  impulse  to  catch  her  in 
his  arms,  hold  her  to  his  heart,  and  cover  the  sweet  face 
with  kisses. 

But  he  must  not,  he  dare  not,  and  at  that  instant  the 
door  opened  and  the  major  came  in,  carrying  the  sick 
child,  and  followed  by  his  wife. 

"  Ah,  doctor,  glad  to  see  you  ;  though,  since  this  little 
chap  has  suddenly  changed  so  much  for  the  better,  I'm 
more  than  half  ashamed  of  having  called  you  out  in  such 
weather." 

"  No  matter  for  that,  major,  it  is  no  new  thing  for  me 
to  face  a  storm,"  returned  Kenneth,  shaking  hands  with 
Mrs.  Lamar,  then  turning  to  examine  his  little  patient. 

Nell  slipped  away  to  the  privacy  of  her  own  room  for 
a  moment.  Her  cheeks  were  burning,  her  heart  throbbed 
wildly;  she  had  read  Kenneth's  impulse  in  his  speaking 
countenance. 

"  He  loves  me,  he  does  love  me  !  "  she  murmured, 
pacing  hurriedly  to  and  fro  ;  "  his  eyes  have  said  it  over 
and  over  again,  but  why  does  he  always  force  back  the 
words  that  I  can  see  are  sometimes  trembling  on  his  very 
lips,  as  though  it  were  a  sin  to  speak  them  ?  O  Ken- 
neth, Kenneth,  what,  what  is  this  separating  wall  between 
us,"  she  cried,  leaning  her  burning  brow  against  the 
window  frame  and  looking  out  into  the  storm  and  night. 


1 86  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

A  fierce  gust  of  wind  sent  the  sleet  with  a  furious  dash 
against  the  window  pane  and  she  shivered  with  a  sudden 
cold. 

The  room  was  fireless,  for  in  those  days  it  was  not 
thought  necessary  to  heat  any  but  the  living  rooms,  and 
the  air  was  damp  and  chill. 

But  she  could  not  go  down  again,  not  yet  ;  and  wrap- 
ping herself  in  a  thick  shawl,  she  again  paced  silently  to 
and  fro  schooling  her  heart  into  calmness. 

The  summons  to  supper  found  her  so  far  successful 
that  a  slightly  heightened  color  was  the  only  remaining 
trace  of  excitement. 

Dr.  Clendenin  had  accepted  an  urgent  invitation  to 
remain  and  there  was  one  other  guest,  a  lady  friend  of 
Mrs.  Lamar,  from  one  of  the  neighboring  settlements. 
She  had  been  in  Chillicothe  a  "day  or  two  and  now  found 
herself  storm-stayed. 

They  were  a  cheerful  party,  enjoying  the  light  and 
warmth  and  savory  viands  all  the  more  for  the  cold, 
darkness,  and  fierce  warring  of  the  elements  without. 

Nell  seemed  the  gayest  of  the  gay,  full  of  mirth  and 
jest  and  brilliant  repartee :  but  she  avoided  meeting 
Kenneth's  eye,  while  he  saw  every  look,  every  move- 
ment of  hers,  and  when  in  passing  an  empty  cup  to  be 
refilled,  their  hands  touched,  it  sent  a  sudden  thrill 
through  both. 

Kenneth  was  very  weary  and  could  not  prevail  upon 
himself  to  decline  a  seat  for  the  evening  beside  the 
major's  warm,  hospitable  hearth,  nor  refuse  his  eyes  the 
privilege  of  feasting  upon  Nell's  beauty,  his  ears  that  of 
drinking  in  each  low  sweet  tone  of  her  voice  and  the 
silvery  sound  of  her  rippling  laughter. 

"Where's  your  master?"  asked   Dale,   looking  into 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         187 

Kenneth's  office,  where  Zeb  was  luxuriating  in  front  of 
a  blazing,  roaring  fire,  seated  in  the  doctor's  arm-chair, 
hands  in  pockets,  pipe  in  mouth  and  heels  on  the  mantel- 
piece. 

"  Gone  to  de  major's,  sah,"  answered  the  boy,  bringing 
his  feet  and  the  forelegs  of  the  chair  to  the  floor  with  a 
loud  thump,  and  removing  the  pipe,  as  he  turned  to  look 
at  his  interlocutor. 

"  He  has,  eh  ?  and  you're  having  a  good  time  in  his 
absence  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sah,  massa  doctah  neber  grudge  dat  when  de 
work's  done." 

"  No,  I  daresay  not,"  and  Dale  drew  back  his  head  and 
shut  the  door. 

"  Gone  to  the  major's,  eh  !  "  he  soliloquized  as  he 
stepped  back  into  his  own  den  ;  "  well  I  reckon  I'm  about 
as  storm  proof  as  he,  so  I'll  follow,  not  being  in  the  mood 
to  appreciate  solitude,  and  feeling  that  my  hard  day's 
work  merits  the  reward  of  a  little  rest  and  recreation." 

Lyttleton  had  come  to  a  like  resolve  and  was  at  that 
moment  closeted  in  his  own  room  with  his  valet,  to  whom 
he  seemed  to  have  been  giving  some  directions  ;  his  last 
words  as  he  wrapped  himself  in  his  cloak  and  went  out, 
were,  "  Come  towards  midnight,  for  though  these  peo- 
ple accustom  themselves  to  such  confoundedly  early 
hours,  I'll  manage  to  keep  them  up  for  once,  and  follow 
my  orders  implicitly.  We  could  not  have  a  more  favor- 
able time,  the  darkness,  the  storm,  why  if  spirits  ever 
walk  abroad  one  would  expect  it  to  be  on  such  a  night 
as  this,"  he  concluded  with  a  mocking  laugh. 

"  Dat  ish  so,  mynheer,  and  I  dinks  von  vill  valk  dese 
shtreets  pefore  morning  goomes,"  returned  Hans,  echo- 
ing the  laugh. 


1 88         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Arrived  at  the  major's,  Dale  found  the  family  and 
guests  seated  around  the  fire,  the  ladies  on  one  side,  the 
gentlemen  on  the  other. 

The  circle  widened  to  admit  him,  Nell  laughingly  ex- 
pressing great  surprise  at  seeing  him  on  such  a  night. 

"  Well  I  don't  know,"  he  said,  "  why  I  should  be  sup- 
posed less  storm  proof  than  the  doctor  here,  and  to  tell 
the  truth,  fair  ladies,  I  couldn't  endure  the  thought  of 
his  basking  in  your  smiles,  while  I  sat  alone  in  my  dingy 
office." 

"You  forget,"  said  Kenneth,  "  how  often  the  case  has 
been  reversed,  Godfrey.  If  you  follow  me  up  in  this 
fashion  I  shall  never  be  even  with  you." 

"  Not  at  all  necessary  that  you  should,  my  good  fel- 
low," remarked  Dale,  toying  with  Nell's  ball  of  yarn,  for 
she,  as  well  as  the  other  ladies,  was  knitting,  and  he  had 
drawn  his  chair  close  to  hers,  with  a  familiarity  Kenneth 
regarded  with  a  jealous  pang. 

"  Alas  that  he  could  not  have  forestalled  Dale  in  this! 
And  did  she  care  for  Dale,"  he  asked  himself,  watching 
them  without  appearing  to  do  so.  How  could  he  bear  it 
if  she  did  ?  Yet  better  that  by  far,  than  seeing  her  in 
the  possession  of  Lyttleton. 

His  absence  would  be  at  least  one  advantage  reaped 
from  the  increasing  fury'of  the  storm.  Lyttleton  was 
not  a  rugged  pioneer  like  themselves,  and  would  surely 
remain  closely  housed  until  it  had  spent  its  wrath. 

He  was  mistaken;  scarcely  had  the  thought  passed 
through  his  mind,  when  there  came  a  loud  rap  upon  the 
outer  door,  quickly  followed  by  the  Englishman's  entrance. 

"  What  you,  too,  sir,  out  in  this  terrific  storm  !  " 
exclaimed  Dale,  not  too  well  pleased,  as  the  circle  again 
widened  to  admit  the  new  comer. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         189 

"  Why,  yes,"  said  Lyttleton,  "  I'm  not  a  milk-sop,  my 
dear  sir,  and  finding  both  the  bar-room  at  the  tavern 
and  my  own  apartment  extremely  dull,  I  ventured  out, 
trusting  to  a  heavy  cloak  for  protection  from  wind  and 
rain,  and  to  the  kind  hospitality  of  these  friends  for  a 
welcome  here." 

"  You  are  heartily  welcome,  sir,"  said  the  major ; 
"  but  draw  up  closer  to  the  fire,  for  I  am  sorry  to  see 
that  the  cloak  has  not  proved  a  perfect  protection  from 
the  wet." 

"  Thanks — no  ;  I  found  I  had  miscalculated,  to  some 
extent,  the  force  of  the  wind,"  laughed  Lyttleton,  with 
a  downward  glance  at  his  nether  limbs,  as  he  accepted 
the  invitation. 

It  was  unworthy  of  Nell,  but  seized  with  a  sudden 
impulse  to  vex  Kenneth,  and  excite  his  jealousy,  by  way 
of  revenge  (or  his  strange,  his  unaccountable  silence 
toward  her,  she  seemed  for  the  next  hour  scarcely  con- 
scious of  his  presence,  while  at  the  same  time  she  lavished 
smiles,  sweet  looks,  and  pleasant  words  upon  his  two 
rivals. 

It  did  pain  him  sorely,  though  he  gave  no  sign  by 
word  or  look,  and  the  sharpest  pang  was  the  thought  that 
she  was  less  noble  and  true,  less  worthy  of  the  exalted 
place  she  had  hitherto  held  in  his  esteem,  than  he  could 
have  believed. 

But  the  storm  grew  wilder,  the  air  was  full  of  weird 
and  eerie  sounds,  and  an  awed,  half  fearful  silence  fell 
upon  the  little  company. 

They  drew  their  chairs  nearer  together,  and  Lyttleton, 
breaking  the  silence,  began  telling  legendary  tales  of 
storm  and  flood  in  his  own  and  other  lands,  following 
them  up  with  stories  of  second  sight,  of  murder,  suicide 


1 90  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

and  ghostly  visitants,  fit  to  curdle  the  blood  with 
horror. 

The  lady  guest  and  Mrs.  Lamar,  too,  had  some  to 
match  these  last,  and  though  the  major,  the  captain, 
Kenneth  and  Dale,  listened  with  incredulous  looks  and 
smiles,  it  was  with  an  interest  that  made  them,  as  well  as 
the  others,  unconscious  of  the  lapse  of  time  till  Dale, 
glancing  casually  at  the  tall  old  clock  ticking  in  a 
corner,  exclaimed  that  it  was  half  past  eleven. 

Lyttleton  had  just  finished  one  of  his  most  thrilling 
and  horrible  ghost  stories,  which  had  wrought  up  the 
female  portion  of  his  audience,  at  least,  into  a  state  of 
extreme  nervous  excitement  ;  and  at  that  instant  there 
came  a  blast  that  seemed  to  shake  the  house  to  its  very 
foundations,  the  door  flew  open,  and  in  stalked  a  tall 
Hessian  in  officer's  uniform,  drawing  his  sword  and  vocif- 
erating loudly  in  his  native  tongue. 

The  ladies  shrieked,  the  Hessian  advanced  toward  the 
major,  brandishing  his  weapon,  gesticulating  wildly,  and 
yelling  with  a  fury  that  drowned  the  noise  of  the  raging 
tempest ! 

The  gentlemen  seemed  stunned  with  astonishment. 
Lyttleton  was  the  first  to  recover  himself. 

"  Begone  !  "  he  cried,  hastily  placing  himself  so  as  to 
shield  Nell  from  the  approach  of  the  enraged  foreigner, 
and  drawing  a  pistol  from  his  ppcket,  "  begone,  sirrah,  or 
I  will  shoot  you  through  the  heart." 

With  that  the  Hessian  turned  about  and  beat  a  hasty 
retreat,  grumbling  and  swearing  as  he  went. 

Lyttleton  stepped  quickly  to  the  door  and  secured  it 
after  him,  then  returned  to  Nell's  side  to  whisper  with 
triumphant  air,  "  Ghost  or  mortal,  I  have  driven  the 
wretch  away,  and  you  are  safe,  fair  lady." 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         191 

The  other  two  ladies,  pale,  trembling,  half-fainting  with 
terror,  hailed  him  gratefully  as  their  deliverer  ;  but  Nell 
had  recovered  from  her  fright  in  the  very  instant  of  utter- 
ing the  shriek  called  forth  by  the  sudden  apparition. 

Was  there  not  something  familiar  in  the  face,  the  form, 
the  stride  with  which  he  crossed  the  room  ? 

She  looked  Lyttleton  keenly  in  the  eye,  then  returned 
his  whisper  with  another. 

"  Did  it  require  any  great  stretch  of  courage  to  order 
your  valet  out  of  the  house  ?  " 

She  had  drawn  her  bow  at  a  venture  and  was  surprised 
to  see  by  his  air  of  overwhelming  confusion  and  chagrin, 
that  her  arrow  had  sped  straight  to  the  mark. 

"  Your  Hessian  as  sure  as  I  stand  here,  sir  !  "  cried 
Captain  Bernard,  recovering  himself  and  clapping  the 
major  on  the  shoulder.  "  Well,  well,  I'll  believe  in  ghosts 
hereafter.  I  never  was  more  astonished  or  taken  aback 
in  my  life.  Lyttleton,  you  showed  yourself  the  most 
quick-witted  and  self-possessed  of  any  of  us.  Allow  me 
to  congratulate  you  on  the  laurels  you  have  won." 

"  I — I — "  stammered  Lyttleton  with  a  deprecating 
glance  at  Nell,  whose  lips  were  curling  with  scorn. 

"  We  will  spare  your  modesty,"  said  the  major,  grasp- 
ing the  Englishman's  hand  warmly,  "  but  let  me  tender 
you  the  thanks  of  the  company." 

Lyttleton  was  strangely  confused  and  embarrassed  ; 
the  ease  and  perfect  self-possession  on  which  he  so  prided 
himself,  had  on  a  sudden  entirely  forsaken  him  ;  he 
darted  a  quick,  imploring  glance  at  Nell,  and  half  in  pity, 
half  in  contempt  she  returned  an  answering  look  that 
told  him  his  secret  was  safe. 

The  others  saw  this  by-play  with  varied  feelings  of 
wonder,  curiosity  and  surprise,  but  no  one  understood  it. 


192  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Captain  Bernard  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  Well,  gentlemen,  it  is  growing  very  late  and  no  pros- 
pect of  abatement  of  the  storm.  I  move  that  we  adjourn 
sine  die.  Mr.  Lyttleton,  shall  I  have  the  pleasure  of  your 
good  company  to  our  hotel  ?  " 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

NEVER  had  scheme  more  signal  failure  than  that  of 
Littleton  for  convincing  pretty  Nell  Lamar  of  his  daunt- 
It^s  bravery  ;  he  went  away  from  the  major's  that  night 
crestfallen  and  angry,  cursing  his  ill-luck  and  her  quick- 
ness of  perception. 

Nor  was  fair  Nell  herself  in  a  much  more  enviable 
state  of  mind  ;  there  was  a  sad,  reproachful  look  in  Ken- 
neth's eyes  as  he  bade  her  a  courteous  good-night,  which 
haunted  her  for  days  and  weeks  like  a  nightmare. 

She  purposely  avoided  him  when  he  called  the  next 
morning  to  enquire  about  Bertie,  and  when  the  weather 
permitted  her  to  resume  her  walks  and  rides,  was  careful 
to  select  those  in  which  she  was  least  likely  to  meet 
him. 

He  was  not  slow  to  perceive  this  and  it  wounded  him 
deeply  ;  particularly  as  Lyttleton  was  very  frequently 
her  companion  and  his  society  seemed  not  unpleasant  to 
her,  if  one  might  judge  from  her  bright  looks  and  smiles. 

Yet  Nell  despised  Lyttleton  heartily,  and  at  times  her- 
self scarcely  less. 

"  Nell  Lamar,  you  are  becoming  an  arrant  and  shameless 
coquette  !  "  she  would  exclaim  almost  fiercely  to  herself 
in  the  privacy  of  her  own  room.  "  I'm  ashamed  of  you  ! 
no  wonder  Dr.  Clendenin  looks  at  you  as  if  he  despaired 
of  you  and  pitied  you  for  your  depravity.  Well,  whose 
fault  is  it  but  his;  why  do  his  lips  refuse  to  speak  what 
his  eyes  have  said  over  and  over  again  ?  Oh,  it  is  mean 


194  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

and  shameful !  I  will  not  care  for  him  or  his  reproving 
looks  !  He  is  no  better  than  I,  and  yet— and  yet — O 
Kenneth,  Kenneth,  you  are  good  and  noble  and  true, 
though  I  cannot  understand  it  !  " 

Thus  she  was  by  turns  angry  and  repentant,  now 
reproaching  him,  and  now  herself. 

She  did  not,  however,  give  Lyttleton  much  encourage- 
ment. As  she  had  said  to  Dale,  she  could  not  forbid  him 
the  house,  neither  could  she  avoid  being  in  the  same 
room  with  him  when  there,  as  no  other,  the  kitchen 
excepted,  was  warm  enough  for  comfort  at  that  inclem- 
ent season,  nor  could  she  prevent  his  joining  her  in  the 
street. 

She  usually  declined  his  attentions  when  it  could  be 
done  without  positive  rudeness,  yet  he  persevered,  the 
prize  seeming  to  him  all  the  more  valuable  because  of 
its  difficulty  of  acquisition. 

Dale  looked  on  with  vexation  and  a  growing  dislike 
to  Lyttleton  ;  but  Clare  gave  the  latter  her  countenance, 
making  him  always  welcome  to  the  house,  saying  little 
things  that  flattered  his  vanity,  and  vaguely  hinting  that 
Nell  was  capricious  and  might  be  won  in  time  by  clever 
courting. 

The  major  was  apparently  oblivious  of  the  whole  mat- 
ter, while  the  gossips  of  the  town  compared  notes  and 
speculated  as  to  the  probability  that  the  Englishman's 
suit  would  eventually  prosper. 

These  queries  and  conjectures  now  and  then  reached 
Kenneth's  ears,  inflicting  a  sharp  pang  all  unsuspected 
by  the  talkers  ;  for  it  had  come  to  be  the  popular  opinion 
that  Dr.  Clendenin  was  a  confirmed  bachelor,  utterly 
indifferent  to  the  charms  of  the  softer  sex  ;  and  not  by 
word  or  tone,  or  so  much  as  a  change  in  the  calm  gravity 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         195 

of  his  demeanor,  did  he  let  them  into  the  secret  of  his 
silent  suffering. 

And  it  was  not  slight  ;  many  a  night  of  sleepless 
anguish  it  cost  him  to  think  how  "  his  darling,  his  own 
precious  little  Nell,"  as  he  must  call  her,  was  being 
wiled  away  from  him  by  one  who  could  never,  he  was 
sure,  half  appreciate  her  worth,  and  was  far  from  deserv- 
ing so  rich  a  prize. 

But  could  it  be  posssble  that  she  would  throw  herself 
away  thus,  that  she  would  give  her  hand  without  her 
heart  ?  For  was  not  that  all  his  own,  had  not  those  beau- 
tiful, eloquent  eyes  betrayed  her  secret  to  him  spite  of 
herself  ?  And  yet,  and  yet — had  he,  beyond  a  doubt  or 
peradventure,  read  that  look  aright  ?  Oh,  if  he  might  but 
go  to  her,  pour  out  the  story  of  his  love  and  sue  for  hers  ? 
But  alas,  alas,  he  dare  not,  'twould  be  a  more  grievous 
wrong  than  to  keep  silent  and  let  her  think  what  she 
would  of  him. 

And  though  he  longed  continually  for  her  sweet 
society,  though  he  felt  as  if  shut  out  of  a  heaven  on 
earth  while  staying  away  from  her  dear  presence,  he  must 
constrain  himself  to  do  so,  always  have  some  excuse 
ready  when  the  major  urged  upon  him  the  hospitalities 
of  his  house. 

And  what  right  had  he  to  accuse  the  dear  girl  in  his 
heart  of  fickleness  and  coquetry  ?  He,  and  he  alone,  was 
to  blame  for  her  conduct,  because  his  looks  had  told  the 
story  of  his  love  and  his  lips  failed  to  confirm  it. 

There  was,  perhaps,  more  than  usual  sociability  among 
the  young  people  of  Chillicothe  that  winter,  and  Lyttle- 
ton  was  invited  everywhere,  generally  accepting  ;  always 
when  he  -knew  that  Miss  Lamar  would  be  one  of  the 
guests  ;  and  not  unfrequently  she  was  much  vexed  by 


196  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

the  marked  attention  he  was  pleased  to  bestow  upon 
her. 

Some  of  the  other  young  ladies  would  have  received 
them  with  far  more  complacency,  deeming  the  hand- 
some, fascinating,  and  apparently  wealthy  Englishman 
no  mean  prize  in  the  matrimonial  lottery. 

Of  course  Nell  was  teased  and  jested  with  about  her 
adorer,  but  to  the  surprise  of  the  well-meaning  jokers, 
their  witticisms  were  received  with  hauteur,  and  some- 
times positive  anger,  leaving  no  room  for  doubt  that 
the  subject  was  an  unpleasant  one. 

Still  most  of  them  made  up  their  minds  that  it  was 
only  their  remarks  that  were  so  distasteful  to  her,  and 
not  the  man  himself,  or  his  evident  predilection. 

Nell  usually  enjoyed  the  sleigh  rides,  the  quiltings, 
the  social  tea-drinkings,  and  evening  parties  which  con- 
stituted the  winter  festivities  of  the  town,  and  was  the 
life  of  them  all  ;  but  this  season  she  was  glad  to  get 
away  from  them,  or  rather  from  Lyttleton's  society, 
to  the  quiet  and  seclusion  of  Mr.  Nash's  farm-house,  to 
which  she  was  carried  off  by  its  mistress  one  bright 
December  morning,  for  a  fortnight's  visit. 

Mrs.  Nash  had  come  into  town  to  exchange  butter 
and  eggs  for  dry  goods  and  groceries.  That  done  she 
called  at  the  major's,  proposed  to  Nell  to  take  a  vacant 
seat  in  her  sleigh,  and  return  with  her,  and  was  delighted 
by  a  prompt  acceptance  of  the  invitation. 

"I  don't  know  how  Mr.  Lyttleton  will  be  able  to 
endure  so  long  a  separation,"  remarked  Clare  de- 
murely. 

"  And  I  don't  care  !  "  returned  Nell,  with  spirit.  "  I 
shall  enjoy  it  extremely,  and  selfish  as  it  may  seem,  that 
is  all  I  am  concerned  about." 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         197 

"  How  about  Dr.  Clendenin  ? "  queried  Mrs.  Nash 
with  a  roguish  smile. 

The  girl's  face  flushed,  then  paled. 

"  He  is  seldom  here  and  will  not  miss  me,"  she  said  in 
a  quiet  tone  as  she  left  the  room  to  make  the  necessary 
preparations  for  the  trip. 

"  Your  English  friend  will  be  sure  to  follow  you,"  said 
Clare  as  they  bade  good-bye. 

"  He  would  not  dare  !  "  cried  Nell.  "  But  don't  you 
let  him  know  where  I  am,  for  there  is  no  saying  how 
far  his  audacity  may  carry  him." 

"  Quite  as  far  as  you  travel  to-day,  I've  no  doubt," 
laughed  Clare. 

"  Nell,"  said  Mrs.  Nash,  as  they  glided  swiftly  over 
the  snow,  leaving  the  town  behind.  "  I  hear  that  En- 
glishman is  very  attentive  to  you  ;  but  I  can  tell  you  Dr. 
Clendenin  is  worth  a  dozen  of  him." 

"  What  has  that  to  do  with  it  ? "  asked  Nell  dryly, 
screening  her  face  from  view  in  the  folds  of  a  thick  veil. 
"  They  are  not  rivals." 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  mean,  my  dear  child.  I  do 
know  that  Dr.  Clendenin  loves  you." 

"  He  has  made  you  his  confidante  ?  " 

Nell's  tone  was  a  mixture  of  inquiry,  pain,  incredulity, 
anger  and  pique. 

"  Not  intentionally  ;  but  words  could  not  have  told  it 
more  plainly  than  his  looks,  tones  and  actions  when  he 
found  you  lying  insensible  beside  the  carcass  of  that 
mad  cat,  and  thought  you  had  been  bitten." 

"All  your  imagination,  man  ami,  Dr.  Clendenin  and 
I  are  nothing  to  each  other." 

Nell  strove  to  speak  lightly,  but  there  was  an  under- 
tone of  bitterness  which  did  not  escape  her  friend. 


1 98         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Mrs.  Nash  mused  silently  for  a  moment,  saying  to  her- 
self there  had  probably  been  a  lovers'  quarrel,  but  she 
hoped  it  would  all  come  right  in  the  end,  and  she  would 
be  on  the  lookout  to  do  anything  in  her  power  to  bring 
about  a  reconciliation. 

She  was  not  one  of  the  prying  kind,  however,  and 
knew  that  Nell  would  be  quick  to  resent  any  attempt  to 
worm  her  secrets  from  her,  so  when  she  presently  spoke 
again,  it  was  upon  a  widely  different  topic. 

They  had  a  pleasant  sociable  time  together  for  several 
days,  Nell  finding  positive  pleasure  in  helping  her  friend 
to  make  up  winter  garments  for  the  children. 

Then  came  a  heavy  snow  storm  followed  by  bright 
weather,  clear  and  cold,  making  excellent  sleighing. 

Mrs.  Nash  had  carefully  avoided  broaching  the  sub- 
ject of  Nell's  love  affairs,  but  they  had,  nevertheless,  been 
seldom  absent  from  her  thoughts,  which  had  busied  them- 
selves with  projects  for  restoring  harmony  between  the 
two,  whom  she  supposed  to  have  had  a  misunderstand- 
ing. 

She  had  cast  about  in  her  mind  for  an  excuse  for  send- 
ing for  the  doctor,  that  so  they  might  be  brought 
together  and  given  an  opportunity  for  mutual  explana- 
tion. So  anxious  for  this  was  she  that  it  seemed  hardly 
a  matter  for  regret  when  she  found  she  had  taken  cold 
with  the  change  of  weather,  and  had  a  slight  sore  throat. 

Mr.  Nash  was  going  into  town  and  she  requested  him 
to  call  at  the  doctor's  office  and  ask  him  to  come  out 
and  see  her. 

Nell  heard,  and  it  sent  the  blood  to  her  cheek  and 
made  her  heart  beat  quickly.  She  had  not  exchanged  a 
word  with  Dr.  Clendenin  since  that  evening  when  she 
had  read,  or  fancied  she  did,  reproof  in  his  eye  and 


THE   THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  199 

voice  because  of  her  flirtation  with  Lyttleton  ;  and  she 
both  longed  and  dreaded  to  meet  him. 

The  latter  feeling  increased  as  the  time  drew  near 
when  he  might  be  expected  ;  the  merry  jingle  of  sleigh 
bells,  and  the  sight  of  a  cutter  with  a  gentleman  in  it 
wrapped  in  furs,  dashing  up  to  the  gate,  had  almost  sent 
her  flying  from  the  room,  so  strong  was  the  impulse  at 
that  moment  to  avoid  him. 

But  a  second  glance  told  her  that  was  not  Kenneth's 
noble  figure  which  sprang  from  the  vehicle  and  came 
hurrying  up  the  path  to  the  house. 

She  sat  still  and  in  another  moment  Lyttleton  stood 
smiling  and  bowing  before  her,  hat  in  hand. 

"  Excuse  this  intrusion,  fair  lady,"  he  said,  "  I  have 
felt  like  a  Peri  shut  out  of  heaven  since  your  withdrawal 
from  the  major's  house,  and  I  come  as  bearer  of  a  letter 
which  I  must  even  hope  may  secure  me  a  welcome." 

He  tendered  it  gracefully  as  he  spoke. 

"  Ah,  thank  you  !  "  she  cried,  her  face  flushing  with 
pleasure,  for  letters  were  a  rare  thing  in  those  days. 

He  bade  her  read  it  while  he  sat  by  the  fire  and  chat- 
ted with  Mrs.  Nash,  to  whom,  with  his  usual  tact  and 
skill,  he  soon  managed  to  make  himself  extremely  enter- 
taining. 

"  Now,  fair  lady,"  he  said,  turning  to  Nell  as  she 
refolded  her  letter,  "  may  I  not  claim  a  reward  for  the 
slight  service  I  have  had  the  happiness  to  render  you  ? " 

"  Of  what  kind,  sir  ? "  she  answered  with  a  saucy 
smile. 

"  The  privilege  of  taking  you  out  for  a  short  drive. 
The  sleighing  is  superb." 

Nell  was  in  a  most  gracious  mood,  and  then  here  was 
the  wished  for  chance  to  escape  the  dreaded  meeting 


200  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

with  Dr.  Clendenin.  She  consented  at  once  and  hastily 
donned  cloak  and  hood. 

"  I'm  afraid  you  will  find  it  very  cold,"  objected  Mrs. 
Nash,  more  anxious  to  detain  the  young  girl  for  Ken- 
neth's coming,  and  to  prevent  any  acceptance  of  atten- 
tions from  his  rival,  than  she  would  have  liked  to 
acknowledge. 

"  Oh  no,  madame,"  hastily  interposed  Lyttleton,  "  I 
have  a  foot-stove  and  plenty  of  robes,  and  there  is  no 
wind  ;  indeed  I  assure  you  it  is  quite  delightful  out  to- 
day, the  air  is  so  pure  and  bracing." 

"  And  I  am  warmly  dressed,  and  have  a  thick  veil," 
added  Nell. 

Lyttleton  tucked  the  robes  snugly  about  her,  saying, 
"  I  trust  you  will  not  suffer  from  cold,  Miss  Lamar." 

"  Oh,  no  !  "  she  answered  with  a  gay  laugh. 

"  Now  which  way  shall  we  travel  ?  "  he  asked,  gather- 
ing up  the  reins. 

With  the  thought  that  Dr.  Clendenin  would  be  coming 
from  the  town,  and  the  desire  to  avoid  a  meeting,  Nell 
named  the  opposite  direction. 

But  they  had  not  gone  half  a  mile  when  that  very 
thing  occurred. 

Dr.  Clendenin  had  a  patient  some  miles  farther  out 
from  town,  had  called  there  first,  and  was  intending  to 
take  Mr.  Nash's  in  his  way  home. 

He  bowed  with  grave  courtesy  to  Nell  and  her  com- 
panion, in  passing,  recognizing  the  latter  with  a  jealous 
pang  that  was  like  the  stab  of  a  sharp  knife. 

Nell's  cheeks  flushed  and  her  eyes  fell  ;  she  was  thank- 
ful that  her  veil  hid  her  agitation  from  Dr.  Clendenin  ; 
but  then  and  many  times  through  the  succeeding  weeks 
and  months,  she  would  have  given  much  to  deny  to  him 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         2OI 

the  knowledge  that  she  had  accepted  this  attention  from 
Lyttleton. 

In  vain  she  asked  herself  what  concern  was  it  of  his, 
what  right  he  had  to  object  ?  She  could  not  shake  off  the 
feeling  that  she  was  in  some  way,  to  some  extent, 
accountable  to  him. 

From  that  day  she  was  as  ready  with  excuses  as  Ken- 
neth himself  when  the  only  alternative  was  to  permit 
Lyttleton  to  be  her  escort. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

LYTTLETON  cordially  hated  Clendenin,  but  endeav- 
ored to  conceal  his  dislike  and  ill-will  under  the  mask  of 
friendship,  haunting  the  doctor's  office  all  through  the 
winter  and  spring  with  nearly  as  great  persistency  as 
during  the  first  week  of  his  sojourn  in  Chillicothe. 

He  indulged  a  like  feeling  toward  Dale,  though  to  a 
less  degree  ;  hating  him  as  a  rival  in  love,  Kenneth  as 
that  and  something  more. 

Spring  opened  early.  Bright,  warm  days  with  hard 
frosts  at  night  made  the  sap  in  the  sugar  maples  run 
freely,  and  many  farmers  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town  were 
busied  in  catching  and  boiling  it  down.  Then  visits  to 
the  sugar  camps  became  one  of  the  popular  amusements 
of  the  young  people. 

Dale  got  up  a  party  to  go  on  horseback  to  one 
five  or  six  miles  away,  inviting  Lyttleton,  but  taking  care 
first  to  secure  to  himself  the  honor  of  playing  escort  to 
Miss  Lamar. 

Lyttleton  was  very  angry  when  he  learned  this,  but 
having  promised  to  go,  tried  to  console  himself  with  the 
young  lady  he  considered  next  to  Nell  in  beauty  and 
fascination. 

He  managed  to  conceal  his  ill  humor,  the  others 
seemed  in  high  spirits,  and  they  had  a  merry  time. 

In  returning  they  made  a  circuit  through  the  woods. 
They  were  following  the  course  of  a  little  stream  when 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  203 

Dale,  who  was  taking  the  lead,  suddenly  gave  a  loud 
"  Hurrah  ! " 

"  What  is  it  ?  what  is  it  ? "  cried  the  others,  hurry- 
ing up. 

"  A  bear's  stepping  place,"  he  answered  gleefully, 
pointing  to  some  deep  indentations  in  the  soft,  spongy 
ground  ;  evidently  the  tracks  of  some  large  wild  animal, 
and  leading  off  from  the  water's  edge  into  the  woods. 

"A  bear!"  cried  Lyttleton,  horrified,  "then  let  us 
hurry  these  ladies  home  with  all  speed." 

"Not  much  danger,  sir,"  remarked  a  young  fellow 
named  Bell  ;  "  bears  are  lazy  at  this  time  of  year,  and  we 
all  have  our  guns.  If  the  ladies  are  not  afraid,  I'd  like 
very  much  to  follow  up  the  track  and  see  where  his 
bearship  lodges." 

"  So  should  I,"  said  Dale.  "  However,  we  can  note  the 
spot  and  return  to  it  to-morrow." 

"No,  lead  on;  I'm  not  afraid,"  cried  Nell.  "He's 
likely  to  be  in  his  hole  any  how,  isn't  he  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  unless  he's  on  his  way  to  the  water  here,  for  a 
drink.  They  come  after  that  about  once  in  two  or  three 
days." 

A  consultation  was  held,  and  a  majority  being  in 
favor  of  following  up  the  track,  they  did  so,  finding  it 
led  them  to  a  large  hollow  tree  distant  some  few  hundred 
yards  in  the  depths  of  the  wood. 

Nothing  was  seen  of  the  bear  himself,  but  the  young 
men,  familiar  with  his  habits,  made  no  doubt  that  he  was 
inside  the  tree,  and  promised  themselves  fine  sport  in 
hunting  him  out,  and  a  grand  feast  upon  his  flesh  ;  the 
fat  part  of  which  is  said  to  make  a  very  luxurious  repast 
when  boiled  or  roasted  with  turkey  or  venison. 

Bell  proposed  to  climb  the  tree,  which  was  rough  and 


204  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

knotted,  and  look  into  the  hole  ;  but  to  that  the  ladies 
objected. 

So  they  turned  about  and  went  home,  the  young  men 
arranging  on  the  way  for  the  proposed  hunt. 

The  next  day,  their  number  augmented  by  the  addi- 
tion of  Major  Lamar  and  Dr.  Clendenin,  they  returned 
to  the  spot. 

Bell,  armed  with  a  long  pole  sharpened  at  one  end, 
climbed  the  tree,  the  others  looking  on  near  by,  each 
with  his  gun  loaded  and  ready  for  instant  use. 

"  Here  he  is,"  cried  Bell,  peeping  in  at  the  hole  in  the 
tree.  "  Out  o'  this,  Sir  Bruin  !  out  I  say !  "  prodding 
the  creature  with  his  stick  as  he  spoke. 

The  beast  uttered  a  low  growl,  but  did  not  move. 
But  Bell  continued  to  punch,  prick  and  order  him  out, 
until  finally  he  obeyed,  moving  heavily  to  the  hole  and 
slowly  dragging  himself  out. 

As  soon  as  he  was  fairly  clear  of  the  hole,  Dale  and  the 
major,  who  had  been  selected  for  the  duty,  fired  ;  tak- 
ing aim  so  accurately  that  the  animal  fell  dead  instantly. 

Tig,  Zeb  and  Hans  were  directed  to  take  care  of  the 
carcass. 

Bell,  who  upon  starting  the  bear  had  slipped  out  on  to 
a  large  limb  and  nonchalantly  awaited  the  shooting, 
dropped  to  the  ground  and  with  the  rest  of  the  hunters 
moved  on  in  search  of  other  game. 

"  You  are  a  daring  fellow,"  observed  Lyttleton  admir- 
ingly, to  Bell.  "  I  was  really  alarmed  for  your  safety." 

"  Oh,  I  didn't  feel  myself  in  much  danger,"  returned 
Bell,  with  a  light  laugh  ;  "  for  you  see  I  had  time  to  slip 
aside,  after  starting  him,  before  he  could  get  clear  of  the 
hole,  and  I  knew  Dale  and  the  major  would  not  miss 
their  marH." 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         205 

The  party  had  traversed  some  miles  of  forest,  shooting 
several  deer  and  a  number  of  wild  turkeys,  when  they 
came  upon  the  "  stepping  place "  of  another  bear,  and 
then  upon  bruin  himself  returning  from  the  stream  where 
he  had  been  slaking  his  thirst. 

This  one  was  of  less  amiable  disposition,  or  wider 
awake  than  the  first,  and  when  Lyttleton,  who  happened 
to  be  nearest,  fired  at  it,  aiming  so  carelessly  in  his 
haste  and  excitement  that  he  only  wounded  without  dis- 
abling it,  the  creature  turned,  rushed  at  him  in  fury  and 
rose  on  its  hind  legs  prepared  to  give  him  a  hug  which 
would  have  left  no  breath  in  his  body. 

But  there  was  a  sharp  report,  a  bullet  whizzed  past 
him,  almost  grazing  his  cheek,  entered  the  creature's 
eye,  penetrating  to  the  brain,  and  it  dropped  dead  at  his 
feet. 

He  staggered  back  pale  and  trembling. 

"  You  are  not  hurt  ?  "  asked  Kenneth's  voice  close  at 
his  side. 

"  Yes  ;  no — I — I  can  hardly  tell." 

"  Well  done,  doc  !  "  cried  the  major,  running  up  to 
them  ;  "  he's  a  big,  powerful  fellow,"  looking  down  at 
the  bear,  "  and  could  have  given  a  tremendous  squeeze, 
such  as  would  crush  a  man's  bone's  to  bits.  Lyttleton, 
I  think  Dr.  Clendenin  has  saved  your  life." 

Lyttleton  stammered  out  some  words  of  thanks,  then 
moved  away  muttering  to  himself,  "  Confound  the  thing, 
he's  the  last  man  I'd  willingly  owe  such  a  debt  to  ! " 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

SPRING  deepened  into  summer  and  still  Lyttleton 
lingered  in  Chillicothe,  though  with  no  apparent  object 
unless  it  might  be  the  hope  of  winning  Miss  Lamar. 
He  continued  to  be  a  constant  visitor  at  the  major's, 
welcomed  by  him  and  Clare,  but  seeing  little  of  Nell, 
who  took  particular  pains  to  avoid  him,  by  going  out 
at  such  times  as  he  was  likely  to  call,  or  busying  herself 
in  another  part  of  the  house  when  he  was  in  the  parlor. 

He  noticed  this  with  anger  and  chagrin,  yet  as  we 
have  said,  difficulty  of  attainment  only  increased  his 
estimate  of  the  value  of  the  prize  he  sought  ;  and  sus- 
pecting, in  his  egregious  self-conceit  and  egoism,  her 
conduct  to  he  merely  an  affectation  of  coyness  with  the 
purpose  to  bring  him  to  a  formal  declaration  of  love, 
for  how  could  any  woman  resist  such  fascination  as  his 
of  person,  manner  and  fortune,  he  determined  to  seize 
the  first  opportunity  to  make  her  an  offer  of  heart  and 
hand. 

With  that  end  in  view  he  dropped  in  one  day  at  the 
major's  just  at  tea  time  ;  ostensibly  for  the  purpose  of 
inquiring  if  they  had  heard  a  piece  of  news  that  was 
creating  some  little  excitement  in  the  town,  and  sure  of 
an  invitation  to  stay  and  partake  with  them  of  the  even- 
ing meal. 

The  news  was  concerning  Wawillaway's  assassin,  the 
dastardly  ruffian  Wolf.  He  had  fled  to  Kentucky 
to  escape  the  merited  punishment  of  his  crime  at 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  207 

the  hands  of  the  two  sons  of  the  murdered  chief,  who, 
in  accordance  with  the  Indian  code,  making  it  the  right 
and  duty  of  the  nearest  of  kin  to  kill  the  slayer  of  their 
relative,  had  vowed  vengeance  upon  him. 

The  murderer  may,  however,  purchase  his  life  at  a 
price  agreed  upon  by  the  family  of  his  victim,  and  Wolf 
had  employed  an  agent  to  make  terms  with  the  two 
young  men. 

It  was  now  announced  that  these  terms  had  been 
agreed  upon,  and  the  business  would  be  concluded  by 
an  interesting  ceremony  at  Old  Town,  to  take  place  the 
following  day. 

Lyttleton  had  heard  several  gentlemen  say  they  meant 
to  be  present  and  to  take  their  wives  or  sweethearts 
with  them,  and  had  determined  that  he  too  would  go, 
if  possible  as  Miss  Lamar's  escort. 

But  Dale  had  the  start  of  him  this  time,  as  on  sev- 
eral former  occasions,  and  was  already  in  the  major's  par- 
lor, discussing  the  news  with  the  family,  and  engaged  to 
conduct  Miss  Nell  to  see  the  ceremony,  when  Lyttleton 
came  in  ;  as  the  latter  presently  learned  from  the  con- 
versation. 

He  was  disappointed  and  angry,  but  so  sure  of  suc- 
cess in  his  more  important  errand  that  he  comforted 
himself  with  the  thought  that  this  was  Dale's  last  chance 
to  serve  him  such  a  trick. 

Dale,  for  his  part,  had  no  idea  that  any  such  calamity 
awaited  Nell  or  himself,  and  having  a  little  urgent  busi- 
ness matter  to  attend  to,  went  away  shortly  after  tea  to 
which  both  callers  had  been  hospitably  invited,  in  a 
very  cheerful  frame  of  mind,  leaving  the  field  to  Lyt- 
tleton. 

He  knew  the  Englishman  to  be  a  rival,  but  did  not 


208  THE   THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

consider  him  a  dangerous  one  ;  and  at  all  events  Nell 
was  secured  to  himself  for  the  coming  day. 

Clare,  though  at  one  time  quite  sure  that  Dr.  Clen- 
denin  and  Nell  cared  for  each  other,  had  now  entirely 
given  up  the  idea  of  ever  seeing  them  united.  She 
could  not  worm  out  the  facts  from  Nell,  but  concluded 
that  there  must  have  been  an  irreconcilable  quarrel. 

"  Well,  she  was  not  sorry,  for  this  Englishman  was 
certainly  very  much  in  love,  and  would  make  a  better 
match,  from  a  worldly  point  of  view  at  least."  So  she 
did  what  lay  in  her  power  to  favor  and  advance  his 
suit. 

Something  in  his  look  or  manner  told  her  of  his  pur- 
pose to-night,  and  she  contrived  that  the  two  should  be 
left  alone  in  the  parlor  soon  after  Dale's  departure. 

Lyttleton  seized  the  opportunity  at  once,  poured  out 
passionate  expressions  of  love,  and  in  plain  words  asked 
Nell  to  become  his  wife. 

She  tried  in  vain  to  stop  him,  he  would  be  heard  to 
the  end. 

"  Mr.  Lyttleton,"  she  said,  rising  with  flushed  cheeks 
and  sparkling  eyes,  "  I  thank  you  for  the  honor  you  have 
done  me,  but  I  cannot  entertain  such  a  proposition  for 
a  moment.  Nay,  hear  me  out,"  as  he  seemed  about  to 
enter  a  protest,  "  even  as  you  have  compelled  me  to  hear 
you.  I  would  have  spared  you  the  pain  of  a  rejection, 
but  you  would  not  let  me." 

"  My  dear  Miss  Nell — Miss  Lamar,"  he  stammered, 
"  it  cannot  be  that  I  hear  aright !  or  if  I  do  that  you 
understand  what  it  is  that  you  are  rejecting.  I  will  say 
nothing  " — with  an  affectation  of  humility — "  of  any 
charms  of  person  or  address  that  some  may  attribute  to 
your  humble  servant,  but  an  honored  and  ancient  name, 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  209 

an  assured  position  among  the  English  gentry,  fine 
estate,  large  fortune — " 

She  interrupted  him,  drawing  herself  up  to  her  full 
height,  while  her  eyes  flashed  and  her  cheek  crimsoned 
with  indignation. 

"  If  I  ever  marry,  Mr.  Lyttleton,  it  shall  be  neither 
position  nor  estate — least  of  all  money." 

"  What  more  can  you  ask,  pray  ? "  he  inquired,  folding 
his  arms  and  throwing  back  his  head  with  an  air  of 
hauteur. 

"  Something  of  infinitely  greater  worth,"  she  replied, 
her  eyes  kindling,  "  infinitely  better  and  higher  ;  the 
love  and  confidence  of  a  true  and  noble  heart,  the 
heart  of  a  man  who.  lives  not  for  himself,  but  for 
others,  who  is  not  content  to  pass  his  days  in  inglorious 
ease  and  idleness,  but  does  with  his  might  what  his 
hands  find  to  do  to  glorify  God  and  benefit  his  fellow 
men." 

"  Clendenin,  curse  him  ! "  he  muttered  between  his 
clinched  teeth. 

Her  quick  ear  caught  the  words  not  meant  for  it. 

"Yes,"  she  said,  with  a  peculiar  smile,  "  Dr.  Clendenin 
answers  the  description  very  well,  but  not  he  alone  ;  I 
am  thankful  to  say  there  are  others  among  my  country- 
men who  do." 

"  Your  countrymen  !  always  your  countrymen,"  he 
blazed  out  growing  very  red  and  angry  ;  "  a  set  of 
clodhoppers  who  are  obliged  to  earn  their  bread  by 
the  sweat  of  their  brows.  Mark  my  words,  miss, 
you'll  see  the  day  when  you  would  be  very  glad  to 
share  the  inglorious  ease  of  a  member  of  the  favored 
class  denominated  the  English  gentry." 

"  No,  sir,"  she  answered   with   spirit,  "  I  am  heart 


210  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

and  soul  an  American,  and  our  differing  nationalities 
would  be  an  insuperable  objection  to  the  acceptance  of 
your  offer  were  there  none  other." 

At  which,  boiling  with  rage  and  disappointment,  he 
hastily  caught  up  his  hat  and  left  the  house. 

Nell's  conscience  pricked  her  with  the  reminder  that 
those  last  words  were  untrue  ;  since,  had  Lyttleton  been 
an  American,  and  Kenneth  an  Englishman,  it  would 
have  made  no  difference  in  her  feelings  toward  either. 

Lyttleton  hurried  on  through  the  streets  and  out  into 
the  country  beyond,  neither  knowing  nor  caring  in  his 
rage  and  disappointment  what  direction  he.  took.  All 
he  wanted  was  to  avoid  observation  until  he  could 
recover  his  accustomed  self-control ;  lest  otherwise  the 
story  of  his  rejection  should  be  bruited  about  and  him- 
self treated  to  scorn  and  ridicule  in  consequence. 

Unconsciously  he  struck  into  the  trail  that  led  to  Old 
Town. 

The  sun  had  set,  but  there  was  yet  sufficient  light  to 
show  him  the  stalwart  figure  of  a  huntsman  with  his  gun 
on  his  shoulder  and  a  string  of  birds  in  his  hand,  com- 
ing to  meet  him. 

Lyttleton  stood  still  for  a  moment,  debating  in  his 
own  mind  whether  to  go  on  or  to  retrace  his  steps, 
when  the  other  called  out  in  a  well-known  voice, 

"  Dat  you,  mynheer  ?  It  ish  goot  you  haf  come.  I 
have  some  dings  der  dell  you." 

"  What  things,  Hans  ?  "  asked  Lyttleton  moving  on  to 
meet  his  valet,  to  whom  he  had  given  permission  for  a 
day's  sport  in  the  woods. 

"  I  dells  you  pooty  quick,  mynheer,"  returned  Hans 
close  at  his  side  ;  then  went  on  to  relate  how  he  had 
fallen  in  with  a  party  of  Indians  on  their  way  to  Old 


THE   THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  2  1 1 

Town  to  take  part  in  the  coming  ceremony,  and  that  they 
had  among  them  a  white  woman  who  seemed,  from  her 
looks  and  actions,  to  have  been  with  them  a  long  while. 

Lyttleton  listened  eagerly,  and  when  Hans  had 
finished  his  story,  tried  to  elicit  further  information  by 
asking  questions  in  regard  to  the  height,  complexion, 
demeanor,  and  apparent  age  of  the  woman. 

When  these  had  all  been  answered.  "  It  may  be 
she,"  he  said  musingly  as  if  thinking  aloud  ;  then  in  a 
quick,  determined  way,  "  Hans,  you  must  take  me  at 
once  to  see  this  woman.  It  may  prove  of  the  greatest 
importance  that  I  should  see  and  talk  with  her  this 
very  night." 

Hans,  already  weary  and  footsore  with  his  day's 
tramp,  would  have  greatly  preferred  to  move  on  to 
Chillicothe  and  get  a  warm  supper  at  the  General 
Anthony  Wayne,  followed  by  a  lounge  on  the  bench 
before  the  bar-room  door.  Accordingly  he  showed  some 
unwillingness  to  obey  the  order. 

It  was,  however,  speedily  overcome  by  the  offer  of 
double  wages  for  that  week.  He  turned  about  at  once 
and  by  the  light  of  the  moon,  just  rising  over  the  tree 
tops,  the  two  followed  the  trail  till  it  brought  them  to 
the  Indian  town,  where  after  some  search  they  found 
the  object  of  their  quest  seated  alone  at  the  door  of  her 
wigwam,  smoking  a  pipe  and  seemingly  wrapped  in 
meditation,  enjoying  the  moonlight  and  the  cool  evening 
breeze  which  was  particularly  refreshing  after  the  day. 

Lyttleton  accosted  her  courteously  in  English,  and 
she  answered  in  the  same  tongue,  inviting  him  to  take  a 
seat  on  the  bearskin  by  her  side. 

"  Thank  you,  I  do  not  wish  to  crowd  you,  I  will  sit 
here,"  he  said,  appropriating  a  stump  close  at  hand. 


212  THE  THORN  IN  7 HE  NEST. 

Hans,  by  his  master's  direction,  had  refrained  from 
approaching  very  near,  and  was  resting  himself  on  a 
fallen  tree  a  few  hundred  yards  distant. 

He  saw  that  Lyttleton  and  the  woman  were  soon  in 
earnest  conversation,  but  could  not  hear  the  words 
spoken. 

Some  of  the  Indians  were  nearer,  but  few  of  them  had 
any  knowledge  of  English,  the  language  used  by  both 
speakers  during  the  interview,  most  of  them  none  at  all, 
and  only  from  looks,  tones  and  gestures,  could  they 
gather  any  hint  of  the  subject  of  the  conference. 

It  lasted  for  a  full  hour  ;  then  Lyttleton  rose  and  stood 
before  the  woman,  talking  and  gesticulating  with  great 
earnestness.  He  seemed  to  be  vehemently  urging  some 
request  which  she  was  inclined  to  deny ;  at  length  he 
drew  out  a  silken  purse  full  of  broad  gold  pieces  which 
glittered  in  the  moonlight  as  he  held  it  up. 

"  Promise  me,"  he  said,  "  and  this  is  yours  ;  keep 
your  promise  till  I  see  you  again  and  it  shall  be 
doubled." 

"  Give  it  me  then,"  she  cried,  stretching  out  an  eager 
hand. 

"  You  promise  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  why  not  ?  " 

He  dropped  it  into  her  open  palm,  saying  impress- 
ively, "  Remember.  Now,  good-bye,"  and  turned  exult- 
ingly  to  go  on  his  way. 

"  Stay,"  she  cried. 

"  Well,  what  more  ?"  he  asked  facing  her  again,  "  is  it 
not  enough  ? " 

"  Yes  ;  but  you  have  not  told  me  who  you  are,  or  why 
you — " 

"  It  does  not  matter  ;  all  you  have  to  do  is  to  follow 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST*.  213 

my  directions,"  he  interrupted  somewhat  haughtily,  and 
strode  rapidly  away. 

"  Your  errand  shpeed  so  petter  as  goot,  mynheer  ? " 
queried  Hans  as  they  struck  into  the  trail  again. 

"  I  flatter  myself  it  will  all  come  out  right  in  the  end, 
Hans,"  was  the  reply  ;  then  there  was  a  muttered  word 
or  two  that  sounded  like  an  imprecation  upon  some 
absent  person,  with  a  threat  of  vengeance  for  some  real 
or  fancied  injury. 

Chillicothe  seemed  sleeping  when  they  re-entered  it ; 
the  streets  were  silent  and  deserted,  the  houses  closed 
and  dark  ;  only  from  the  bar-room  window  of  the  Gen- 
eral Anthony  Wayne  gleamed  the  light  of  a  single  tallow 
candle.  Master  and  man  entered  there  without  noise  or 
bustle  and  presently  slipped  quietly  away  to  the  room  of 
the  former. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

CURIOSITY  was  rife  in  Chillicothe  and  its  vicinity  in 
regard  to  the  ceremony  about  to  take  place  at  Old 
Town,  and  as  the  set  time  drew  near  very  many  whites 
of  both  sexes  might  have  been  seen  approaching  the 
spot,  singly  or  in  parties. 

Clendenin,  hindered  by  the  demands  of  his  profession, 
was  one  of  the  last  to  arrive  on  the  ground. 

He  found  the  Indians  drawn  up  in  a  hollow  square, 
outside  of  which  was  the  concourse  of  white  spectators, 
inside  Wolf  with  his  promised  bribe, — a  horse,  a  new 
saddle  and  bridle,  and  a  new  rifle  for  each  of  the  sons  of 
his  victim. 

Kenneth  had  come  alone.  He  knew  that  Dale  had 
preceded  him,  and  whom  he  was  to  escort  thither,  and 
there  they  were  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  square  ;  Nell 
in  a  becoming  riding  hat  and  habit,  sitting  her  horse 
with  accustomed  ease  and  grace  ;  Dale  by  her  side,  the 
picture  of  content  and  good  humor. 

Kenneth  sighed  involuntarily  ;  what  would  he  not 
have  given  to  be  in  Dale's  place,  yet  he  was  glad  to  see 
his  friend  so  favored  rather  than  the  Englishman. 

The  next  moment  he  perceived  that  Lyttleton  also 
was  one  of  the  assembled  throng  ;  at  some  little  distance 
from  those  two,  but  in  a  position  to  get  a  good  view  of 
their  faces,  and  that  he  was  watching  them  closely,  with 
a  look  of  jealous  rage. 

Kenneth's  eyes  turned  to  Nell  again  to  see  hers  fixed 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  215 

for  an  instant  upon  the  burly  form  and  ruffianly  face  of 
Wolf,  with  an  expression  of  disgust  and  horror. 

But  the  ceremony  was  beginning,  and  for  a  little 
claimed  the  attention  of  all  present. 

The  two  young  men  came  forward  into-  the  hollow 
square,  Wolf  presented  his  horses  and  trappings,  they 
lifted  their  hands  toward  heaven  involving  the  Great 
Spirit,  and  declaring  that  to  Him  alone  they  transferred 
the  blood  and  life  of  Wolf  forfeited  by  the  death  of  their 
father. 

They  then  shook  hands  with  Wolf  in  token  of  their 
forgiveness,  saluted  him  as  a  brother,  and  lighting  the 
calumet  of  peace,  smoked  with  him  in  the  presence  of 
the  Great  Spirit. 

The  scene  was  one  of  deep  solemnity  and  many  eyes 
filled  with  tears  as  they  gazed  upon  it. 

But  it  was  over  and  the  crowd  began  to  disperse, 
tongues  were  loosed,  and  Kenneth,  silently  threading  his 
way  among  the  talkers,  casually  overheard  the  remark, 
"  There  is  a  white  woman  here,  they  say,  who  has  been  a 
great  many  years  with  the  Indians." 

He  almost  caught  his  breath  for  an  instant  as  he  sud- 
denly reined  in  his  horse,  his  heart  beating  like  a  ham- 
mer, a  wild  hope  springing  up  within  his  breast,  a  rush 
of  mingled  emotions  surging  through  his  brain. 

Strange  that  he  had  not  thought  of  such  a  possibility. 

He  turned  back,  dismounted  and  secured  his  horse  to 
a  sapling  ;  doing  it  all  mechanically.  Then  he  strolled 
about  among  the  Indians,  shaking  hands  with  them  and 
kindly  inquiring  after  their  health  and  that  of  their 
families,  patting  the  heads  of  the  pappooses,  nodding 
smilingly  to  the  older  children,  and  scanning  with  fur- 
tive, but  keen  scrutiny,  the  face  of  each  elderly  squaw. 


216  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

At  length  he  came  upon  the  object  of  his  search,  a 
woman  past  middle  age,  whose  features  were  unmistaka- 
bly those  of  the  white  race. 

She  sat  on  the  grass  in  the  shade  of  a  tree,  near  the 
door  of  a  wigwam,  her  fingers  busily  employed  in 
embroidering  a  moccasin. 

She  seemed  scarcely  aware  of  his  presence  as  he  stood 
before  her  vainly  striving  to  still  the  tumultuous  beating 
of  his  heart. 

Controlling  his  voice  by  a  great  effort,  he  addressed 
her  in  English,  in  a  quiet  tone. 

"  How  do  you  do,  mother  ? " 

She  looked  up  for  an  instant,  shook  her  head  slowly, 
and  dropped  her  eyes  upon  her  work  again. 

"  You  understand  me  ? "  he  said  inquiringly,  "you 
have  not  forgotten  your  native  tongue  ?  " 

"  Me  squaw,"  was  the  laconic  answer,  unaccompanied 
by  so  much  as  a  glance. 

He  sat  down  on  a  stump  near  at  hand,  the  very  same 
on  which  Lyttleton  had  seated  himself  the  previous 
night,  and  watched  her  silently  for  a  moment,  while  he 
considered  the  best  manner  of  approaching  her  so  as  to 
win  her  confidence  and  learn  whether  she  could  indeed 
tell  him  aught  of  that  which  all  these  years  he  had  been 
trying  to  discover. 

"  You  are  a  white  woman,  why  should  you  wish  to  con- 
ceal the  fact  ? "  he  said  at  length  in  a  soft,  persuasive 
tone.  "  I  have  no  design  against  you,  but  on  the  con- 
trary would  gladly  do  you  any  service  in  my  power." 

Again  she  raised  her  head,  this  time  giving  him  a 
steady  look,  and  was  it  fancy  that  for  a  single  instant 
there  was  something  like  a  gleam  of  recognition  in  her 
eye. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         217 

If  so  it  was  gone  again  before  he  could  be  sure  it  had 
been  there  ;  while  she  answered  indifferently  in  the 
Shawnee  tongue,  that  she  did  not  understand  what  he 
had  just  said,  and  that  she  was  not  a  pale  face  but  an 
Indian  woman,  the  wife  of  a  Shawnee  brave. 

Kenneth  sat  for  a  moment  in  perplexed  silence  ;  her 
assertion  that  she  did  not  belong  to  the  white  race  was 
evidently  false,  yet  what  could  be  her  motive  for  making 
it  ?  If  she  preferred  to  remain  with  the  tribe  no 
one  could  force  her  away,  or  would  be  likely  to  care 
to  do  so. 

As  he  watched  her  again  busied  with  her  work,  appar- 
ently wholly  careless  of  his  presence,  and  studied  her 
face,  recalling  the  description  that  had  been  given  him, 
calculating  what  her  age  might  be,  and  the  changes  pro- 
duced by  the  hardships  and  exposure  of  her  wild  life, 
the  conviction  grew  upon  him  that  it  was  possible,  even 
probable,  she  was  the  very  woman  for  whom  he  had  so 
long  and  vainly  searched. 

He  determined  upon  a  bold  course. 

Leaning  toward  her  and  gazing  full  into  her  face, 
"  Reumah  Clark,"  he  said,  "  have  you  quite  forgotten  the 
old  life  in  the  little  valley  among  the  mountains  of  East- 
ern Tennessee,  the  husband  and  children  you  then 
loved  so  dearly,  the  kind  neighbors  at  whose  house  you 
were  when  the  Indians  swooped  down  so  suddenly  upon 
you  all  ? " 

She  had  not  been  able  to  repress  a  slight  start  at  the 
unexpected  sound  of  that  name,  or  to  entirely  preserve  the 
stolidity  of  countenance  with  which  she  had  begun  the 
interview. 

She  rose  hastily  and  disappeared  from  view  within  the 
wigwam. 


2lS  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

The  action  left  in  Kenneth's  mind  little  room  for  doubt 
of  her  identity,  but  alas,  of  what  avail  that  he  had  found 
her,  if  she  could  not  be  induced  to  speak  of  those 
long  past  occurrences  and  to  reveal  the  secret  which,  if 
known  to  any  mortal,  was  possessed  by  her  alone  ? 

His  heart  beat  almost  to  suffocation  while  he  forced 
himself  to  sit  waiting  quietly  there  at  the  door  of  her 
wigwam  in  the  forlorn  hope  that  she  might  return  in  a 
truthful  and  communicative  mood. 

He  was  alone,  no  one  near,  though  at  the  distance  of 
a  few  hundred  yards,  the  young  Indians  were  engaged  in 
active  sports  and  their  shouts  and  laughter  occasionally 
broke  the  stillness  of  the  woodland  scene. 

He  waited  what  seemed  an  age  to  his  tortured  nerves, 
perceiving  neither  sound  nor  motion  within  the  tent, 
then  rose  and  moved  slowly  toward  the  spot  where  he 
had  left  his  faithful  steed. 

He  had  not  quite  reached  it  when  a  hand  was  laid 
lightly  upon  his  arm,  and  turning  he  found  a  tall  young 
brave  standing  by  his  side. 

"  Does  the  pale  face  forget  ?"  he  asked  in  good  Eng- 
lish, holding  out  his  hand. 

"  Have  we  ever  met  before?  "  asked  Kenneth,  earnestly 
scanning  the  lad's  face,  while  he  took  the  hand  in  a  cor- 
dial grasp  and  shook  it  heartily. 

"  Indians  never  forget  good  white  men,"  continued  the 
lad,  "  white  man  find  Little  Horn  in  the  snow,  take  him 
in  his  arms,  carry  him  to  his  fire,  wrap  him  in  his  blanket, 
feed  him.  White  man  very  good.  Indian  boy  love  good 
white  man." 

"  Oh  I  remember  you  now  !  "  cried  Kenneth,  joyfully, 
shaking  hands  with  increased  cordiality,  while  his  face 
lighted  up  with  his  rare,  beautiful  smile.  "  I  am  glad  to 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         219 

meet  you  again.  Tell  me,  can  I  do  anything  more  for 
you  ? " 

"  Little  Horn's  turn  now.  What  would  my  friend  with 
White  Swan,  the  warrior  Black  Eagle's  squaw  ?  " 

"  I  wish  to  talk  with  her  about  my  mother  and  father, 
whom  she  once  knew,"  said  Kenneth.  "  But  she  refuses 
to  listen  or  to  speak." 

"  Has  my  friend  heap  money  ?  " 

"  I  have  some.     Will  money  open  her  lips  ?  " 

The  Indian  gave  an  expressive  grunt,  then  went  on 
to  tell  of  Lyttleton's  visit  to  their  camp  and  interview 
with  the  woman,  of  which  he  had  been  an  unnoticed 
witness. 

He  had  not  heard  or  understood  all  the  talk  between 
them,  but  enough  to  enable  him  to  gather  by  the  assist- 
ance of  their  tones  and  gestures,  the  holding  up  of  the 
purse,  and  the  eager  hand  outstretched  to  receive  it,  that 
a  bribe  had  been  offered  and  accepted,  and  her  conduct 
of  to-day,  which  also  he  had  closely  watched,  had  con- 
vinced him  that  her  promise  had  been  to  maintain  silence 
toward  Kenneth,  of  whose  intended  visit  Lyttleton  must 
have  known. 

Clendenin  listened  in  great  surprise.  Who  could  it 
have  been  ?  He  did  not  know  that  he  had  an  enemy  in 
the  whole  world,  and  this  visit  was  entirely  unexpected 
even  to  himself. 

But  Little  Horn's  communication  gave  him  fresh  hope. 
"  Would  he  be  his  messenger  to  the  white  squaw,"  he 
asked  earnestly;  "  would  he  go  to  her  and  say  that  if  she 
would  talk  with  the  pale  face,  and  answer  his  questions 
as  well  as  she  could  he  would  give  her  as  much  money 
as  the  pale  face  visitor  of  the  previous  night  had  promised 
her  if  she  kept  silence  ?  " 


220  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

The  Indian  accepted  the  commission,  went  at  once 
to  the  wigwam,  Kenneth  slowly  following,  passed  in,  and 
a  few  moments  after  reappeared  in  company  with  the 
woman. 

A  change  had  come  over  her  face  ;  it  no  longer  wore 
the  stolid  look  Kenneth  had  seen  upon  it  during  their 
earlier  interview,  the  features  were  agitated  and  there 
were  traces  of  tears  on  the  cheeks.  His  words  had 
recalled  half  forgotten  scenes  of  bitter  sorrow,  terror  and 
despair. 

"  Speak  !  I  listen,"  she  said  in  the  English  tongue, 
seating  herself  and  motioning  to  him  to  do  the  same,  then 
burying  her  face  in  her  hands. 

He  dropped  upon  the  grass  by  her  side  and  began  at 
once  in  low,  quiet,  almost  mournful  tones. 

"  Many  years  ago,  before  I  was  born,  there  stood 
two  log  cabins,  some  half  mile  apart,  in  a  little  valley 
among  the  mountains  of  Tennessee.  A  young  couple 
named  Clark,  with  a  family  of  several  small  children, 
lived  in  one  ;  the  other  was  occupied  by  two  couples 
bearing  the  same  family  name,  Clendenin  ;  the  men 
were  distantly  related  ;  one  older  by  twenty  years  or 
more  than  the  other  ;  he  had  married  a  widow  with  one 
child,  a  daughter,  and  she  had  shortly  after  become  the 
wife  of  his  younger  kinsman." 

Kenneth  paused. 

"  Go  on,"  said  his  hearer,  in  smothered  tones. 

Little  Horn,  with  native  delicacy,  had  withdrawn 
and  thrown  himself  upon  the  grass  just  out  of  ear- 
shot. 

Kenneth  went  on. 

"  These  two  families  were  the  sole  residents  of  the 
little  valley  ;  the  nearest  white  neighbor  lived  miles 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        221 

away  on  the  other  side  of  the  mountains,  and  between 
lay  forests  filled  with  wild  beasts  and  hostile  Indians. 

"  One  lovely  summer  day  Mr.  Clark  was  helping  his 
neighbors  in  the  field,  his  wife  visiting  theirs.  She  had 
taken  her  children  with  her  and  they  were  at  play  in  the 
door-yard. 

"  In  the  course  of  the  day  both  mother  and  daughter 
were  taken  sick,  and  two  babes  were  born  within  half  an 
hour  of  each  other. 

"  Mrs.  Clark  had  her  hands  more  than  full  in  attending 
upon  the  women,  and  the  children,  both  boys,  hastily 
wrapped  in  a  blanket  and  laid  in  the  same  cradle,  had 
received  no  further  attention,  when  a  scream  from  her 
own  little  ones,  '  Mother,  mother  !  the  Injuns  !  the 
Injuns  ! '  sent  her  flying  to  their  rescue." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  sobbed  his  listener.  "  Oh,  my  darlings, 
tomahawked  and  scalped  before  my  very  eyes  !  I  see 
their  bleeding  corpses  now !  Their  father's  too,  shot 
down  as  he  came  running  from  the  field  to  try  to  save  us. 
And  then  I  was  dragged  away  never  to  see  home  or  rela- 
tions again  !  " 

"  Then  you  are  indeed  Reumah  Clark  ?  " 

Kenneth's  voice  trembled  with  agitation  as  he  asked 
the  question. 

She  bowed  assent,  her  face  still  hidden  in  her  hands. 
But  suddenly  dropping  them  she  gazed  eagerly,  search- 
ingly,  into  his  face. 

"  And  you,  you  who  look  so  like  the  dead,  who  are 
you  ? " 

"  One  of  those  babes  born  on  that  terrible  day,"  he 
answered  with  emotion  ;  "  which,  I  do  not  know;  and  that 
is  what  I  have  hoped  even  against  hope,  that  you  co  jld 
t  jll  me.  You  laid  us  down  together,  you  remember,  and 


222  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

to  this  day  the  question  remains  unsolved  which  was  the 
uncle  and  which  the  nephew.  Did  you  observe  any  mark 
upon  either,  anything  at  all  to  distinguish  him  from  the 
other  ? " 

Clendenin  was  greatly  agitated  as  he  put  this  question, 
and  his  breathing  was  almost  suspended  as  he  waited  for 
the  reply. 

"  Yes,"  she  said  ;  "  one  had  a  very  peculiar  mark  on 
his  breast.  I  was  sort  o'  expecting  it,  and  looked  for  it 
right  away." 

"  What  was  it,  and  on  which  child  ?  "  he  asked  with 
the  tone  and  manner  of  one  to  whom  the  answer  must 
bring  life  or  death. 

"  Wait,"  she  said,  "  let  me  tell  it  in  my  own  way. 
Clark  he'd  been  a  cabin  boy  aboard  a  ship,  and  an  old 
sailor  had  tattooed  an  anchor  on  his  arm.  'Twas  fur  up 
above  his  elbow,  and  didfl*t  show  except  he  took  pains  to 
roll  his  sleeve  up  a-purpose." 

She  spoke  hesitatingly,  as  one  who  had  half  forgotten 
the  use  of  her  mother  tongue,  and  to  Clendenin  the  sus- 
pense was  agony  well  nigh  unendurable  ;  but  by  a  strong 
effort  he  kept  himself  quiet. 

"  Well,"  she  continued,  "  the  oldest  Mrs.  Clendenin 
was  over  to  our  house  not  a  week  afore  that  awful  day, 
and  Clark  he  showed  her  that  mark  on  to  his  arm,  and  I 
saw  that  she  turned  kind  o'  sick  and  faint  at  the  sight, 
and  then  quick  as  thought  she  slipped  her  hand  into  the 
bosom  of  her  dress. 

"  Clark,  he'd  turned  away  with  a  laugh,  and  gone 
out  o'  the  door  ;  and  I  asked  her  what  she  did  that 
for,  and  she  said  she  was  afraid  her  child  would  be 
marked,  and  if  'twas  to  be  she  wanted  it  where  it  wouldn't 
show. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        223 

"  Then  she  got  up  to  go  home,  and  says  she,  '  We'll 
not  speak  of  this,  Reumah,  and  I'll  try  not  to  think  of 
it,  so  there'll  be  less  likelihood  of  mischief  coming  of  it.'  " 

"  And  it  was  her  child,  the  older  woman's  ?  "  cried 
Kenneth,  breathlessly  ;  "  and  is  this  what  you  speak 
of  ?  "  tearing  open  his  shirt  bosom  as  he  spoke. 

"  Yes,  that's  it,  as  sure  as  I'm  a  living  woman  !  "  she 
answered,  gazing  curiously  at  the  deep  red  mark  in  the 
form  of  an  anchor  on  the  left  breast.  "  And  now  you 
know  which  o'  the  two  you  are." 

He  drew  a  long,  sighing  breath  of  relief,  as  one  who 
feels  a  heavy  weight  fall  from  his  shoulders,  clasped  his 
hands,  and  lifted  his  eyes  to  heaven,  his  face  radiant 
with  unutterable  joy  and  thankfulness,  his  lips  moving, 
though  no  sound  came  from  them. 

She  watched  him  in  wonder  and  amazement. 

"  What's  the  difference,"  she  asked,  as  he  resumed 
his  former  attitude,  "  and  how  comes  it  that  your  mother 
didn't  know  by  that  very  mark  that  you  were  hers  ?  " 

"  She  died  within  the  hour,"  he  said  with  emotion  ; 
"  raising  herself  in  the  bed,  and  looking  through  the  open 
door,  she  saw  her  husband  slain,  his  reeking  scalp  held 
aloft  by  a  savage,  and  with  a  wild  scream  she  fell  back 
and  expired." 

"  And  the  rest  ?  " 

"  The  younger  Clendenin  gained  the  house  barely  in 
time  to  secure  the  door  before  the  Indians  reached  it, 
and  keeping  up  a  vigorous  fire  through  a  chink  in  the 
wall,  his  wife,  ill  as  she  was,  loading  for  him,  there 
happening  to  be  two  guns  in  the  house,  he  at  length 
succeeded  in  driving  off  the  enemy. 

"  A  few  weeks  later  they  left  forever  the  scene  of  the 
terrible  tragedy,  taking  the  two  babes  with  them." 


224  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

The  interview  lasted  some  time  longer,  Kenneth 
expressing  his  gratitude  to  the  woman  with  much  warmth 
and  earnestness,  and  urging  her  to  return  to  civilized 
life. 

This  she  steadily  declined  to  do,  saying  that  she  did 
not  know  of  a  living  relative  among  the  whites,  had  an 
Indian  husband,  children  and  grandchildren,  and  had 
learned  to  like  her  wild  life. 

Hearing  that,  he  ceased  his  importunity,  gave  her  all 
the  money  he  had  with  him  and  a  written  promise  of 
more,  tearing  a  leaf  from  his  note  book  for  the  purpose  ; 
then  with  a  cordial  shake  of  the  hand,  and  an  invitation 
to  visit  him  the  next  day  in  Chillicothe,  that  he  might 
redeem  his  promise,  bade  her  good-bye. 

As  he  turned  to  go  Little  Horn  rose  from  the  grass  and 
came  toward  him,  asking  of  his  success. 

In  reply  Kenneth  told  him  he  had  learned  all  he 
wished  to  know  from  the  white  squaw,  and  was  greatly 
indebted  to  him  for  his  timely  assistance. 

He  would  have  added  a  reward,  but  the  lad  utterly 
refused  to  accept  it,  saying  it  was  very  little  he  had  done 
in  return  for  what  he  owed  to  the  saviour  of  his  life.  And 
then  he  added  that  his  influence  with  the  white  squaw 
was  due  to  the  fact  that  he  was  her  son,  and  that  he 
had  informed  her  of  the  great  service  Kenneth  had  done 
him  years  ago. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

NEVER  since  early  boyhood  had  Clendenin  borne 
in  his  bosom  so  light  and  glad  a  heart  as  that  with  which 
he  left  Old  Town  upon  the  close  of  his  interview  with 
Reumah  Clark. 

One  thought — that  there  was  now  no  barrier  between 
him  and  his  sweet  and  beautiful  Nell,  unless  indeed,  she 
herself  had  created  one,  filled  him  with  a  joy  and  thank- 
fulness beyond  the  power  of  words  to  express. 

But  an  enemy  lay  in  wait  to  rob  him  of  it. 

Lyttleton,  closely  watching  Clendenin,  had  noticed  that 
he  tarried  behind  in  the  Indian  camp  while  others  were 
leaving  it  ;  but  carefully  abstaining  from  any  allusion  to 
the  fact,  he  conducted  the  young  lady  whose  escort  he 
was  to  her  home,  then  leaving  the  town  by  the  opposite 
side,  made  a  circuit  through  the  woods  that  brought  him 
back  to  a  hill  overlooking  the  trail  to  Old  Town,  ascend- 
ing which  he  waited  and  watched  for  Kenneth's  return. 

Very  impatient  he  grew  toward  the  last,  but  not  to  be 
baulked  of  his  prey  by  hunger  or  weariness,  he  remained 
at  his  post  of  observation  until  his  eyes  were  gladdened 
by  the  sight  of  the  manly  form  of  Clendenin  mounted 
on  his  gallant  steed  and  following  the  trail  at  a  brisk 
canter  that  was  bringing  him  rapidly  nearer. 

Lyttleton  now  hastily  descended  the  hill,  galloped 
across  a  bit  of  prairie  and  struck  into  the  trail  just  in 
time  to  meet  the  man  whom  he  cordially  hated  in  his 


226  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

heart  while  in  outward  seeming  he  was  the  warmest 
friend. 

"  So  here  you  are  at  last,  doctor,"  he  said  with  a  genial 
smile,  "  I  declare  I  was  actually  growing  uneasy  about 
you." 

"  How  so  ?  "  returned  Kenneth  in  surprise,  "  it  is  noth- 
ing unusual  for  me  to  be  out  scouring  the  country  at 
any  or  all  hours  of  the  day  and  night." 

"  Yes,  but  among  the  savages  you  know.  I  saw  that 
you  lingered  behind  as  the  rest  of  us  set  out  on  our 
return  to  the  town,  and  I  thought  it  not  at  all  impossible 
that  the  wild  creatures  might  be  moved  to  do  you  a 
mischief." 

He  looked  keenly  at  Kenneth  as  he  spoke,  thinking 
to  read  in  his  countenance  how  his  errand  had  sped. 
He  had  never  seen  it  half  so  bright  and  joyous. 

"  Ah,  he  has  won,"  he  said  to  himself  with  a  pang  of 
mingled  disappointment  and  envy.  "  He  has  learned  all, 
and  it  is  in  his  favor.  Curse  him,  he  shan't  have  her  too 
if  I  can  prevent  it  ! 

"You  seem  to  have  had  a  pleasant  time,"  he  said 
aloud,  "  I  think  I  never  saw  you  look  quite  so  cheery." 

Kenneth  only  smiled,  he  felt  so  free  and  happy,  as 
light  and  joyous  as  a  bird  on  the  wing. 

"  I  congratulate  you  on  your  good  luck,  whatever  it 
may  have  been,"  continued  Lyttleton,  still  eyeing  him 
curiously  ;  "  and  I  must  ask  a  return  in  kind  from  you, 
for  I  too  have  been  made  a  happy,  yes,  the  very  happiest 
of  men  to-day." 

Clendenin  turned  upon  him  a  startled,  questioning 
look,  his  very  lips  growing  white  ;  he  tried  to  speak,  but 
could  not  find  his  voice. 

"  Yes,"  Lyttleton  went  on  with  a  cruel  delight  in  the 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         227 

pain  he  saw  he  was  giving  ;  "  I  am  sure  you  will  think 
so  when  I  tell  you  that  Miss  Lamar  is  my  promised  wife 
and  I  shall  soon  be  the  husband  of  the  finest  woman  in 
America." 

Kenneth  answered  not  a  word,  the  blow  was  so  sud- 
den, so  terrible,  so  stunning ;  for  it  never  occurred  to 
him  that  those  words  which  sounded  the  death  knell  of 
his  fondest  hopes  were  a  falsehood,  and,  ah  !  he  had 
thought  it  impossible  that  Nell  could  ever  give  herself 
to  one  so  utterly  devoid  of  noble  qualities  as  this  stranger 
who  was  now  boasting  of  having  won  her. 

Lyttleton  perceived  with  savage  exultation  how  he 
had  wrung  the  heart  of  the  man  whom  he  hated  ; — 
hated  all  the  more  bitterly  because  he  owed  him  his  life 
and  because  of  his  own  ill-desert  as  a  trifler  with  sweet 
Marian's  affections  :  whose  sworn  foe  he  was  even  before 
leaving  England  for  America  ;  his  very  errand  to  this 
country  being  one  of  wrong  to  him,  an  errand  which 
he  now  foresaw  was  likely  to  miscarry  through  the 
information  gleaned  from  the  white  squaw  of  the  Shawnee 
brave. 

They  were  passing  a  farm-house;  some  one  standing  at 
its  gate  hailed  the  doctor,  and  with  a  slight  parting 
inclination  of  the  head  to  Lyttleton,  Kenneth  turned 
aside  and  obeyed  the  call. 

The  sun  was  touching  the  top  of  the  hill  which  bounds 
Chillicothe  on  the  west,  as  he  resumed  his  homeward  way, 
a  different  man  from  the  one  who  had  left  Old  Town 
so  full  of  joy  and  glad  anticipation  ;  the  very  dropping  of 
his  figure,  as  he  moved  slowly  along  with  the  bridle  lying 
loosely  upon  Romeo's  neck,  spoke  of  utter  dejec- 
tion. 

What  was  life  worth  without  his  love,   his  darling  ? 


228  THE  THORX  IX  THE  NEST. 

Oh,  why  had  not  this  knowledge  come  to  him  a  little 
sooner,  this  that  unsealed  his  lips.  Why  had  he  not 
yielded  to  his  impulse  that  stormy  night  as  they  stood 
alone  together  by  the  fire,  and  poured  out  the  story  of  his 
love  ?  How  much  wiser  and  kinder  to  have  done  it, 
even  though  he  had  to  tell  her,  too,  that  an  impassable 
barrier  stood  between  them  ! 

He  could  see  it  so  plainly  now,  but  then,  his  eyes 
were  blinded. 

And  she,  how  could  he  blame  her  if  her  love  had 
at  last  turned  to  aversion  and  she  had  given  herself  to 
another  ? 

But  alas,  alas,  how  ill  she  had  chosen,  a  man  devoid  of 
principle  and  utterly  selfish  ;  for  so  far  had  Kenneth 
succeeded  in  reading  Lyttleton's  true  character. 

But  these  were  vain  regrets  ;  he  must  school  himself 
to  bear  bravely  his  grief  and  disappointment  ;  trouble 
did  not  spring  out  of  the  ground,  and  the  loving 
Father  above  never  sent  to  His  children  one  unneeded 
pang. 

And  was  life  indeed  all  dark  to  him  ?  Was  it  nothing 
that  a  terrible  dread  had  been  taken  away  ?  That  he 
had  reason,  intellect,  education,  health  and  strength, 
that  God  had  given  him  skill  to  relieve  pain  and  suffering  ? 

Ah,  his  mercies  were  far  beyond  his  deserts,  and  life 
could  not  be  a  desolate  waste  while  power  was  granted 
him  to  minister  to  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  others  ; 
and  while  there  remained  to  him,  not  only  the  love  of 
the  two  dear  ones  at  Glen  Forest,  but  also  the  sweeter, 
dearer  love  of  Him  who  saith  to  His  children  : 

"  Lo,  I  am  with  you  always  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world."  "  I  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love." 
"  I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee." 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        229 

The  precious  comforting  words  came  to  him  almost  as 
if  spoken  by  an  audible  voice,  and  were  as  balm  and 
healing  to  his  wounded  spirit. 

There  were  business  matters  claiming  his  immediate 
attention,  and  he  now  resolutely  turned  his  thoughts 
upon  them. 

He  decided  upon  an  early  visit  to  his  old  home  ;  he 
must  see  her  whom  he  had  always  called  mother,  but 
who,  as  he  had  learned  from  Reumah  Clark,  was  in 
reality  his  sister  ;  sweet  Marian,  too.  Ah,  she  must  never 
know  that  he  was  less  nearly  related  to  her  than  she 
fondly  believed.  It  would  but  give  her  unnecessary 
pain. 

But  first  of  all  steps  should  be  taken  to  get  Reumah 
Clark's  evidence  in  a  form  that  would  make  it  available 
legal  proof  of  his  identity,  for  there  was  much  dependent 
upon  that. 

On  reaching  the  town  he  at  once  sought  Godfrey 
Dale,  and  they  were  closeted  together  for  an  hour  or 
more. 

In  this  interview  Dale  learned  what  had  been  his  friend's 
secret  grief,  that  it  had  in  a  measure  passed  away  with 
the  knowledge  of  his  true  parentage,  though  it  was 
sorrow  of  heart  to  him  that  it  proved  the  tie  of  kinship 
with  the  dear  ones  at  home  less  close  than  he  had  once 
believed,  and  the  importance,  for  certain  grave  reasons, 
of  his  being  able  to  bring  forward  indisputable  proof  of 
his  identity. 

Dale  understood  the  management  of  the  business; 
the  first  step  in  which  was  to  get  the  woman  into  the 
town  and  have  her  deposition  taken  before  a  magis- 
trate. 

It  was  probable  that  she  would  come  in  the  next  morn- 


230  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

ing  of  her  own  accord,  in  order  to  receive  the  money  for 
which  she  held  Clendenin's  note;  if  she  did  not  Dale  was 
to  go  in  search  of  her. 

"  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  secret  foe  of  yours  will  not  get 
hold  of  her  again  in  the  meantime,"  he  remarked.  "  Who 
can  he  be  ?  I  know  of  no  one  who  has  cause  for  enmity 
toward  you,  unless,  indeed,  as  a  rival  in  the  good  graces 
of  a  certain  fair  damsel,  "  he  added  jocosely,  "  and,  why 
Kenneth,  man,  that  would  be  Lyttleton  !  And  he's 
mean  enough  to  serve  you  such  a  scurvy  trick,  too.  But 
then,  on  second  thought,  how  would  he  know  anything 
about  the  woman  or  your  interest  in  her  ?  No  ;  I  confess 
I  am  nonplussed." 

"  Beside,"  said  Kenneth  sadly,  "  he  tells  me  he  is  a 
successful  rival,  so  he  might  well  afford  to  refrain 
from  any  interference  with  my  welfare." 

"  He  successful  with  Miss  Nell  ?  "  cried  Dale  with 
scornful  incredulity.  "  Don't  you  believe  it !  And  yet,  " 
with  a  sudden  change  of  tone,  "women  are  strange, 
unaccountable  creatures,  and  it  is  possible  her  seeming 
contempt  and  dislike  were  only  assumed  to  hide  her 
real  feelings.  Heighho  !  I  really  thought  your  chances 
better  than  mine  ;  those  last  by  no  means  so  poor  as 
Lyttleton's." 

A  party  of  the  merchants  of  the  town  were  to  start 
three  days  from  this  time  for  the  East,  to  buy  goods. 
Their  custom  was  to  go  in  companies,  as,  a  great  portion 
of  the  country  being  still  in  wild  state,  much  of  it  was 
covered  with  immense  forests,  containing  but  a  few  widely 
scattered  dwellings.  They  must,  perforce,  carry  a 
good  deal  of  money  with  them  and  it  was  unsafe  for  one 
to  travel  alone. 

Kenneth  had  announced  his  intention  to  join  this  party, 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         231 

but  that  evening's  mail  brought  a  letter  from  Glen 
Forest  which  so  filled  him  with  anxiety  and  alarm,  made 
his  presence  at  home  so  urgently  necessary,  that  he  at 
once  decided  to  risk  going  with  no  companion  but  Zeb, 
and  to  set  off  at  dawn  of  the  coming  day,  leaving  to 
Dale  the  whole  care  and  responsibility  of  getting  Reumah 
Clark's  evidence  into  proper  shape. 

Dale  used  every  argument  and  persuasion  to  induce 
his  friend  to  wait  for  company  ;  two  days  he  thought 
would  make  so  little  difference,  and  the  risk  to  a  solitary 
traveller  was  so  great  ;  but  all  to  no  purpose;  Clendenin 
would  hardly  stay  to  hear  him  out,  there  was  so  much 
to  be  attended  to  in  the  few  hours  that  remained  before 
he  should  leave  for  an  absence  that  might  extend 
to  months. 

Several  patients  must  be  visited  and  recommended  to 
the  charge  of  a  brother  physician,  some  purchases 
made,  and  some  friends  called  upon  for  a  word  of  fare- 
well. 

It  would  seem  a  strange,  unkind,  ungrateful  thing  to 
go  without  saying  good-bye  to  Major  Lamar  and  his  fam- 
ily, who  had  always  made  him  so  entirely  one  of  them- 
selves. 

And  Nell  ?  Ah,  he  could  not,  would  not  go  away  with- 
out learning  from  her  own  lips  if  Lyttleton's  story  were 
true. 

And  if  it  were  not  ?  But  ah,  he  dare  not  think  any 
further. 

His  heart  beat  almost  audibly  as  he  opened  the  gate 
and  hurried  up  the  path  to  the  house. 

The  bright  moonlight  showed  him  the  major  sitting 
alone  in  the  porch. 

"  Ah,  good  evening,  doctor,"  he  said,  rising  to  shake 


23*  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

hands  and  set  a  chair  for  his  guest.  "  I  am  especially 
glad  to  see  you  to-night,  as  I  am  just  in  the  mood  for  a 
friendly  chat." 

"  Thank  you,  major,  but  I  am  in  unusual  haste,"  Ken- 
neth answered.  "  Can  I  see  the  ladies  ?  " 

"  Sorry  to  say  I  cannot  give  you  that  pleasure  to-night, 
doctor,"  was  the  laughing  reply.  "Mrs.  Lamar  has 
gone  to  bed  tired  out  with  the  exertion  and  excitement 
of  the  day,  and  Nell  is  not  at  home  ;  won't  be  for  a  week 
or  two,  at  least ;  has  gone  home  with  a  friend  living 
fifteen  miles  from  town." 

Kenneth  almost  staggered  under  the  blow.  Then  a 
wild  impulse  seized  him  to  follow  her  and  know  his  fate 
from  her  own  mouth,  though  it  would  delay  his  journey 
for  one  day,  if  not  for  two.  But  recalling  some  words  of 
the  letter  just  received,  words  that  made  him  feel  that 
every  moment's  delay  on  his  part  was  hazardous  to  sweet 
Marian,  he  put  it  from  him  with  heroic  self-denial, 
briefly  explained  his  errand,  parried  some  remonstrances 
such  as  Dale  had  already  wasted  upon  him,  and  with  a 
cordial  parting  shake  of  the  hand  and  a  farewell  message 
for  the  family,  turned  and  went  away. 

Lyttleton's  heart  that  afternoon  was  like  a  cage  of 
unclean  birds  full  of  malice,  envy,  anger  and  hate.  Ken- 
neth having  left  him  in  answer  to  the  summons  to  the 
farm-house,  he  pursued  his  way  to  the  town  muttering 
imprecations  upon  the  head  of  his  late  companion  and 
mentally  resolving  schemes  for  his  injury. 

"  Curse  him  ! "  he  said  again,  "  is  he  to  have  all  and  I 
none  ?  Would  that  fate  were  but  kind  enough  to  remove 
him  out  of  my  path  !  " 

"  Do  it  yourself  !  " 

It  seemed  an  almost  audible  suggestion. 


THE  THOR.V  hV  THE  .VEST.  233 

He  started  and  glanced  around  with  a  shudder,  half 
expecting  to  see  the  tempter. 

•  N\  no,  I  am  not  so  bad  as  that!"  he  answered 
aloud.  "  I  could  never  stain  my  hands  with  blood,  but 
if  the  Indians  should  slay  him  in  the  woods,  as  they  did 
Capt.  Herrod,  or  if  his  horse  should  happen  to  stumble 
and  he  fall  and  break  his  neck,  well,  it  would  not  grieve 
me  very  deeply,  ha,  ha  ! 

"  I  suppose  the  girl  wouldn't  have  me  even  then,"  he 
continued  with  a  gloomy  scowl,  "  but  I'd  have  undis- 
turbed possession  of — But  nonsense  !  I  must  deal  with 
things  as  they  are." 

He  continued  his  cogitations,  but  had  not  yet  suc- 
ceeded in  arranging  any  definite  plan  when  he  arrived  at 
his  lodgings  and  dismounted,  giving  his  horse  in  charge 
to  Hans. 

However,  the  knowledge  casually  gained  in  the  course 
of  the  evening,  of  Kenneth's  intended  departure  early 
the  next  morning  for  the  East,  and  with  no  com- 
panion but  his  negro  servant,  brought  a  sudden  sug- 
gestion to  his  mind  which  filled  him  with  fiendish 
delight. 

A  letter  from  England,  like  Clendenin's  received  by 
that  evening's  mail,  furnished  a  plausible  pretext. 

Hans  was  summoned  and  given  orders  to  make  every- 
thing ready  to  leave  Chillicothe  at  once. 

"  Dish  night,  mynheer  ?  "  queried  the  man  in  aston- 
ishment. 

"  Yes,  this  night ;  there  is  a  moon  and  we  can  travel  by 
her  light.  I  have  news  from  England  and  must  return 
thither  with  all  speed." 

"  De  horses  pe  not  shtrong  enough  to  go  day  and 
night,  mynheer,"  remarked  Hans,  scratching  his  head 


234  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST, 

and  looking  not  over  pleased  ;  for  he  was  loth  to  lose 
his  night's  rest. 

"  That's  my  affair  ;  you  have  nothing  to  do  but  obey 
orders,"  was  the  haughty  rejoinder. 

Lyttleton  knew  that  Nell  was  out  of  town,  and  now 
was  glad  that  it  had  so  happened,  as  he  did  not  care  to 
meet  her  again,  yet  felt  that  it  would  not  look  well  for 
him  to  leave  the  place  without  a  parting  call  on  the 
family. 

He  met  Clendenin  coming  away,  passed  him  with  a 
cold  bow,  and  joined  the  major  who  was  still  on  the 
porch,  its  sole  occupant  as  before. 

"  What  you,  too,  sir  ?  "  he  exclaimed,  when  Lyttleton 
had  explained  the  object  of  his  call.  "  The  doctor  was 
in  but  now  to  say  that  he  leaves  unexpectedly  in  the 
early  morning  ;  but  it  seems  that  you  are  making  even 
greater  haste  to  forsake  us.  Coming  back  again,  I  hope." 

"  Doubtful,  my  good  sir,  and  I  must  leave  my  adieu 
to  the  ladies  with  you,  regretting  deeply  that  I  could 
not  deliver  them  in  person,"  Lyttleton  said,  lying  with  a 
glibness  that  was  the  result  of  long  practice. 

He  tarried  but  a  few  moments,  and  again  the  major 
was  left  to  his  solitary  meditations,  which  now  ran  upon 
the  question  whether  Nell  had  aught  to  do  with  the  sud- 
den migration  of  these  two  admirers  of  hers.  He  could  not 
tell,  for  the  girl  had  kept  her  own  council  in  regard  to 
her  feelings  toward  them,  and  Lyttleton's  offer  of  the 
previous  day. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

• 

DALE  was  in  his  office,  very  busy  with  some  writing, 
when  Lyttleton  looked  in. 

"  Excuse  the  interruption,  Mr.  Dale,"  he  said,  holding 
out  his  hand,  "  but  I  did  not  like  to  go  without  saying 
good-bye  to  you  and  the  doctor.  He,  however,  I  find  is 
not  in." 

"  Good-bye  !  you're  not  going  to  leave  Chillicothe 
to-night,  are  you  ? "  cried  Godfrey  in  surprise,  as  he  laid 
down  his  pen  and  took  the  offered  hand. 

"  Yes  ;  immediately,  Hans  has  everything  packed, 
and  the  horses  saddled  and  at  the  door.  Had  a  letter 
from  home  to-night,  and  find  I  must  tarry  no  longer. 
Please  give  my  respects  and  adieus  to  the  doctor,"  he 
added,  as  he  hurried  away. 

"  I  wonder  he's  not  afraid  to  risk  travelling  with  only 
that  rascally  looking  servant,  who  might  rob  and  kill  him 
and  nobody  any  the  wiser,"  thought  Dale.  "  Well,"  he 
remarked  aloud,  resuming  his  pen,  "  I  suppose  it's  no 
affair  of  mine." 

Was  it  a  haunting  doubt  of  Hans's  fidelity  or  some 
other  motive  that  led  Lyttleton  to  turn  to  him,  as  they 
left  the  town,  and  bid  him  ride  by  his  side  instead  of 
behind  him  ? 

However  that  may  have  been,  he  kept  a  sharp  watch 
upon  his  valet's  movements. 

Presently  he  took  him  into  his  confidence  in  some 
degree,  partially  unfolding  a  plot  to  get  Clendenin  into 


236  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

his  power,  and  securing  the  Hessian's  co-operation  by 
the  promise  of  a  bribe. 

They  pressed  forward  all  that  night  and  the  next  day, 
pausing  only  for  a  short  rest  when  their  horses  showed 
signs  of  exhaustion. 

The  greater  part  of  the  way  was  vfery  lonely  ;  they 
had  met  no  one  since  early  morning,  when  toward  the 
close  of  the  day  they  overtook  a  man  mounted  on  a 
sorry  nag  and  jogging  along  in  silence  and  solitude  ;  a 
villainous  looking  fellow,  in  whom  Lyttleton  at  once 
recognized  one  of  his  intended  tools  ;  whose  acquaint- 
ance he  had  made  on  the  outward  bound  journey  of 
some  months  ago,  and  whom  he  had  casually  discovered 
to  be  an  enemy  to  Dr.  Clendenin. 

It  was  in  fact  Brannon,  who  had  never  forgotten  or 
forgiven  the  part  Kenneth  had  had  in  his  conviction  of 
the  theft  of  the  great-coat,  handkerchief,  and  shirt, 
abstracted  from  the  dwelling  of  the  Barbours.  . 

Lyttleton  hailed  him  with,  "  Hello,  Brannon,  you're 
the  very  man  I  was  wanting  to  see." 

"  And  who  may  you  be  ?  "  returned  the  fellow  surlily, 
showing  a  scowling  face  as  he  glanced  back  over  his 
shoulder  at  the  speaker  ;  then  suddenly  wheeling  his 
horse  across  the  narrow  path  so  as  to  bar  their  further 
progress,  "  What  do  you  want  with  me  ?  "  he  demanded 
in  a  tone  of  one  who  feels  himself  at  enmity  with  his 
kind. 

"  To  furnish  you  with  a  bit  of  employment  very  much 
to  your  taste,"  answered  Lyttleton. 

"  And  what  may  that  be  ?  Ha,  I  remember  you  now, 
the  English  gent  that  was  a  goin"  out  to  Chillicothe  some 
months  back,  and  had  so  many  questions  to  ask  about 
Dr.  Clendenin.  Curse  him  !  Well,  did  ye  find  it  all  out  ?  " 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        237 

"It?" 

"  Yes,  it,  whatever  you  wanted  to  know." 

"  Yes  ;  I  found  out,  what  I  suspected  before,  that 
he  is  very  much  in  my  way  :  and — but  before  I  lay  my 
plans  open  to  you  I  must  have  your  promise,  your  oath 
of  secrecy." 

"  Them's  easy  given,"  the  fellow  answered  with  an 
unpleasant  laugh  ;  "  I  promise  and  swear  never  to  tell 
no  tales  consarnin'  what  you're  agoin'  to  say." 

"  Very  well.  Clendenin  is  travelling  in  this  direction, 
with  no  companion  but  a  young  negro  servant  who,  I 
take  it,  is  neither  very  brave  nor  strong." 

A  malicious  gleam  of  satisfaction  shone  in  Brannon's 
eyes. 

Lyttleton  noted  it  with  pleasure. 

"  We  could  not  have  a  better  opportunity,"  he  went 
on  ;  "  you  who  have  an  old  score  against  him,  and  I 
who  find  him  as  I  just  said  entirely  too  much  in  my 
way." 

"  What  are  you  at,  mister,  out  with  it  plump  and 
plain,"  Brannon  said  with  an  impatient  gesture  and  a 
volley  of  oaths,  as  Lyttleton  came  to  a  pause  and  looked 
hesitatingly  at  him.  "  I  ain't  no  fancy  for  this  'ere  beating 
about  the  bush.  Is  it  his  life  you  want,  or  not  ?  " 

"  No,  no  ;  I'm  no  murderer  !  "  Lyttleton  exclaimed 
with  a  shudder  and  a  fearful  glance  from  side  to  side. 
"  But  patience,  man,  and  I'll  explain  in  a  few  words. 
We'll  call  this  doctor  a  mad  fellow,  perhaps  it  isn't  so 
very  far  from  the  truth,  ha,  ha,  and  we'll  take  him 
prisoner,  and  keep  him  such  somewhere  in  these  woods 
until  I  can  make  arrangements  to  remove  him  to  a  mad 
house." 

Brannon  listened  with  a  grim  smile. 


238  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  But  look  ye  here,  stranger,"  he  interrupted,  "  what  if 
he  should  get  free  and  peach.on  us  ? " 

"  We  must  take  care  that  he  doesn't  ;  and  I'll  make  it 
worth  your  while  to  take  the  risk.  Can  you  get  help  in 
capturing  him  ?  " 

Brannon  nodded.  "  Here  comes  one  now  that'll  bear 
a  hand  willingly  if  you  give  him  his  price  ;  "  and  as  he 
spoke  he  waved  his  hand  toward  a  tall,  burly  figure  just 
emerging  from  the  wood  a  few  paces  from  them. 

"  Dree  of  us,"  muttered  Hans,  watching  its  approach  ; 
"  dat  ish  pooty  goot ;  and  mynheer,  too  ;  dree,  four 
against  two.  We  takes  dem  brisoner  mitout  fail." 

The  last  comer  was  drawing  near  with  long  and  rapid 
strides. 

"  What's  that  ?  "  he  asked  sharply  and  bringing  his 
rifle  to  his  shoulder.  "  Ah,  is  it  you,  Jack  !  what's 
up?" 

"  Yes,  it's  me,  Bill  Shark,"  answered  Brannon.  "  Come 
on  ;  here's  a  gent  as  has  a  job  suited  to  the  likes  of  us." 

As  the  fellow  came  near  enough  for  a  distinct  view  of 
his  features,  Lyttleton  involuntarily  shrank  from  him, 
so  brutal  and  forbidding  was  their  expression. 

But  recovering  himself  instantly,  he  repeated  substan- 
tially, and  under  the  same  promise  of  secrecy,  what  he 
had  been  saying  to  Brannon. 

"  I'm  your  man,  if  we  can  agree  on  the  terms,"  was 
the  rejoinder.  "  I'll  want  a  pretty  stiff  price,  mind  ye, 
stranger,  for  it's  like  to  be  a  risky  business,  more  so  than 
if  ye  wanted  him  put  clean  out  o'  the  way;  for  '  dead  men 
tell  no  tales,'  you  know." 

Lyttleton  shook  his  head. 

"  No,  no,  I  can't  stain  my  hands  with  blood,  his  or 
that  of  any  other  man." 


THE   THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  239 

The  ruffian  regarded  him  with  a  brutal  sneer  and  a 
muttered  sentence,  of  which  the  only  audible  words 
were  "  white  livered  coward." 

Lyttleton  writhed  under  the  charge  but  dared  not 
resent  it.  In  fact  he  began  to  feel  himself  in  a  perilous 
position  ;  darkness  was  already  settling  down  over  the 
forest,  he  had  not  full  confidence  in  his  valet,  and  these 
others  were  evidently  unscrupulous  scoundrels. 

"  How  much  ahead  are  you,  did  ye  say  ?  "  queried 
Shark. 

"  I  think  we  have  the  start  of  him  by  from  six  to  eight 
hours,"  replied  LyttJeton.  "  Besides,  we  have  pushed 
on  more  rapidly  than  he  would  be  likely  to,  as  you 
may  judge  by  the  condition  of  our  horses." 

"  H'm  !  then  he'll  most  likely  be  along  here  about  this 
time,  or  a  trifle  earlier,  to-morrow,  stop  fur  his  lodging 
at  Brannon's,  just  above  here,  a  little  back  in  the  woods, 
or  at  my  shanty  five  miles  furder  on.  'Twont  make 
much  difference  ;  whichever  he  stops  with,  the  other'll 
help  entertain  him.  And,  stranger,  we  kin  turn  out 
purty  strong  on  occasion.  I've  two  strappin'  sons  and  a 
nevvy,  and  the  old  woman  can  lend  a  helpin'  hand  too, 
when  she's  wanted. 

"  S'posen'  you  and  Brannon  and  this  other  feller  come 
over  home  with  me  now,  and  let's  talk  it  over.  We'll 
determine  just  what's  to  be  done,  and  I'll  set  my  price." 

Lyttleton  had  felt  a  cold  chill  running  down  his  spine 
during  this  speech  and  at  the  moment  would  gladly  have 
put  many  miles  between  him  and  what  he  began  to  sus- 
pect was  an  organized  band  of  robbers  and  cut-throats. 

But  evidently  it  would  not  do  to  show  fear.  Carefully 
steadying  his  voice,  he  courteously  thanked  Shark  for  his 
invitation,  but  declined  it  on  the  plea  that  they  all, 


240  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

himself,  Hans  and  both  their  horses,  were  in  sore  need  of 
rest ;  for  which  reason  they  would  stop  for  the  night 
with  Brannon  ;  his  house  being  so  much  nearer.  This 
seemed  satisfactory  and  thither  they  all  went. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

THE  sun  had  not  yet  risen,  and  few  of  the  townspeo- 
ple were  astir,  when  Kenneth  and  his  faithful  Zeb  set 
forth  upon  their  journey. 

They  rode  slowly  through  the  almost  deserted  streets, 
the  master  in  seemingly  absent  mood,  quiet  and  thought- 
ful even  to  sadness,  the  servant  glancing  briskly  from 
side  to  side  with  a  nod  and  grin  for  each  visible  acquaint- 
ance with  whom  he  felt  himself  upon  terms  of  something 
like  equality. 

"  Good-bye,  Tig ;  dis  heyah  niggah's  off  for  Glen 
Forest,"  he  shouted  as  they  passed  the  major's. 

Tig,  who  was  cutting  wood  in  the  kitchen  door-yard, 
dropped  his  axe  to  gaze  after  them  in  wondering  incre- 
dulity. 

"  Oh,  you  go  'long  wid  yo'  tomfoolin',"  he  muttered, 
as  he  stooped  to  pick  it  up  again,  "  'taint  no  sech  ting ; 
and  the  doctah  ain't  never  goin'  so  fur,  'tout  sayin' 
good-bye  to  our  folks  ;  and  Miss  Nell  she's  away  whar  he 
can't  git  at  her.  'Spect  I  knows  who's  powerful  fond  of 
her,  and  who  tinks  he's  mighty  sight  nicer'n  any  ole 
Britisher." 

They  were  early  risers  at  the  major's,  and  Mrs.  Lamar 
having  retired  the  previous  night  several  hours  before 
her  usual  time,  had  slept  off  her  fatigue  and  found  her- 
self ready  to  begin  the  day  earlier  than  was  her  wont. 

From  her  chamber  window  she,  too,  saw  Kenneth  and 
his  attendant  ride  by. 


242  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Why,  there  goes  Dr.  Clendenin  equipped  as  for 
a  journey,  valise,  saddle-bags  and  servant !  "  she  ex- 
claimed, addressing  her  husband  who  was  still  in  bed. 

"  Yes,  he's  off  for  Pennsylvania." 

"For  Pennsylvania,  it's  very  sudden,  isn't  it?" 

"  Yes ;  he  had  bad  news  last  night,  sickness  in  the 
family  I  believe,  that  hurried  him  off  in  great  haste. 
He  called  to  bid  us  good-bye,  but  found  no  one  but 
me. 

"  But  you  will  be  more  surprised  to  hear  that  Lyttleton 
left  town  last  night  in  obedience  to  a  summons  from 
England.  He,  too,  called  and  left  his  adieus  for  you 
and  Nell." 

Mrs.  Lamar  faced  round  upon  the  major  a  face  full  of 
astonishment,  not  wholly  unmixed  with  disappointment 
and  vexation. 

"  Gone  !  "  she  cried,  "  actually  gone  for  good  !  I  must 
say,  Percy,  that  I  am  completely  out  of  patience  with 
Nell." 

"  With  Nell,  pray  what  has  she  to  do  with  it  ? " 

"  She  has  rejected  him.  I  suspected  it  before  ;  now  I 
am  sure  of  it.  News  from  England  indeed  !  "  and  she 
turned  away  with  a  contemptuous  sniff. 

"  Possibly  you  are  correct  in  your  conjecture,"  the 
major  remarked,  recovering  from  the  surprise  her  words 
had  given  him  ;  "  but  if  she  has  rejected  Lyttleton,  she 
had  a  perfect  right  to  do  so,  and  I  am  inclined  neither 
to  blame  her  nor  to  regret  her  action." 

"  Why  it  would  have  been  a  splendid  match,  Percy, 
and  such  a  chance  as  she  is  not  likely  to  see  again." 

"  Not  in  my  opinion.  He  seems  to  be  wealthy,  but  I  do 
not  admire  his  character.  And  it  would  have  robbed  me 
of  my  little  sister,  taking  her  so  far  away  that  I  could 


THE  THORN  7/V  THE  NEST.  243 

hardly  hope  to  see  her  again  in  this  world.  I  should  far 
rather  see  her  the  wife  of  Clendenin." 

"  I  gave  that  up  long  ago,"  returned  his  wife  in  an 
impatient  tone,  as  she  hastily  left  the  room. 

"  I  believe  something  has  gone  wrong  between  them  ; 
I  wonder  what  it  can  be,"  soliloquized  the  major  while 
making  his  toilet,  and  at  the  same  time  taking  a  mental 
retrospect  of  such  of  the  interviews  of  Nell  and  Dr. 
Clendenin  as  had  come  under  his  notice. 

But  having  no  proclivity  for  match-making,  and  no 
desire  to  be  relieved  of  the  support  of  his  young  sister, 
whose  presence  in  his  family  he  greatly  enjoyed,  he 
shortly  dismissed  the  subject  from  his  thoughts. 

Not  so  with  Kenneth  ;  as  he  passed  the  house  he 
involuntarily  glanced  toward  the  window  of  her  room, 
half  expecting  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  face  dearest  and 
loveliest  to  him  of  all  on  earth,  then  turned  away  with  an 
inward  sigh,  remembering  sadly  that  each  step  forward 
was  taking  him  farther  away  from  her. 

Very  much  cast  down  he  was  for  a  time,  having  had  in 
Hans's  story  to  Zeb,  that  his  master  was  but  going  away 
temporarily  for  the  purpose  of  making  suitable  prepara- 
tions for  his  approaching  nuptials,  what  seemed  con- 
firmation strong  of  the  truth  of  Lyttleton's  assertion  that 
he  was  Nell's  accepted  suitor.  But  ere  long  he  was  able 
to  stay  himself  upon  his  God,  and  casting  all  care  for 
himself,  and  those  dearer  than  self,  upon  that  almighty 
Friend,  resumed  his  accustomed  cheerfulness  and  pres- 
ently woke  the  echoes  of  the  forest  with  a  song  of 
praise  ;  Zeb,  riding  a  few  paces  behind,  joining  in  with  a 
hearty  goodwill. 

They  had  left  Chillicothe  far  in  the  rear  and  the  near- 
est human  habitation  was  miles  away. 


244  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

They  made  a  long  day's  journey  and  bivouacked  that 
night  under  a  clump  of  trees  on  the  edge  of  a  prairie, 
and  beside  a  little  stream  of  clear  dancing  water. 

It  was  Clendenin's  intention  to  be  early  in  the  saddle 
again,  and  great  was  his  disappointment  on  the  following 
morning  to  find  Romeo  so  lame  that  a  day's  rest  just 
where  they  were  was  an  imperative  necessity. 

It  was  a  strange  and  perplexing  dispensation  of  Provi- 
dence ;  yet  recognizing  it  as  such,  he  resolutely  put  aside 
the  first  feeling  of  impatience  as  he  remembered  how 
sorely  he  was  needed  at  Glen  Forest  ;  how  the  dear  ones 
would  be  looking  and  longing  for  his  coming.  There 
must  be  some  good  reason  for  this  apparently  unfortu- 
nate detention,  so  he  submitted  to  it  with  resignation  and 
passed  the  day  not  unpleasantly  or  unprofitably  in  read- 
ing ;  it  was  his  habit  to  carry  a  pocket  volume  with  him 
while  travelling,  or  wandering  through  the  adjacent 
wood. 

They  were  able  to  move  on  the  next  day,  but  only 
slowly,  as  the  horse  had  not  fully  recovered  ;  and  while 
halting  for  an  hour's  rest  at  noon,  they  were,  to  their 
great  delight,  overtaken  by  the  other  party  from  Chilli- 
cothe. 

It  consisted  of  three  merchants,  Messrs.  Grey,  Collins 
and  Jones,  and  a  stalwart  backwoodsman  and  hunter, 
Tom  Johnson  by  name. 

They  also  were  much  pleased  at  the  meeting, 
which  they  had  desired  but  hardly  hoped  for,  though 
they  had  set  out  a  day  earlier  than  had  been  expected, 
the  merchants  hastening  their  preparations  when  they 
found  that  by  so  doing  they  would  secure  the  company 
of  the  hunter,  who  for  fearlessness,  strength,  and  skill 
in  the  use  of  fire-arms,  was  a  host  in  himself. 


THE  THORN  IX  THE  NEST.  245 

Each  merchant  carried  his  money  in  his  saddle-bags, 
and  the  whole  party  were  well  armed. 

Greeting  Clendenin  with  a  glad,  "  Hello  !  "  they  hastily 
dismounted,  secured  their  horses,  and  joined  him,  pro- 
ducing from  their  saddle-bags  such  store  of  choice  pro- 
visions as  made  Zeb's  eyes  dance  with  delight,  for  the 
lad  was  in  his  way  quite  an  epicure. 

The  sight  of  the  goodly  array  of  weapons  of  defence, 
and  stout  arms  to  wield  them,  gave  him  scarcely  less 
pleasure,  for  Zeb's  courage  was  not  always  at  fever 
heat. 

"  Golly,  massa  doctah  !  "  he  exclaimed,  showing  a 
double  row  of  white  and  even  teeth,  "  I  'spec's  we 
needn't  be  'fraid  no  robbahs  now.  Gib  um  Jessie  ef 
dey  comes  roun'  us." 

"  Best  not  to  be  too  jubilant,  Zeb,"  said  his  master ; 
"  you  and  I  may  have  to  fall  behind  because  of  Romeo's 
lameness." 

"  No,  no,  never  fear,"  said  the  others,  "  we  are  not 
going  to  forsake  you,  doc,  now  that  we  have  joined  com- 
pany." 

They  did  not  linger  long  over  their  meal  and  were  soon 
in  the  saddle  again,  riding  sometimes  two  abreast,  at 
others  in  single  file,  but  always  near  enough  for  exchange 
of  talk. 

Kenneth  bore  his  own  burden  bravely,  was  quite  his 
usual  cheerful,  genial  self,  and  no  one  suspected  what  a 
load  of  sorrow  and  anxiety  was  pressing  upon  him. 

They  journeyed  on  without  mishap  or  adventure,  and 
late  in  the  afternoon  came  to  a  two  story  log  dwelling 
standing  a  little  back  from  the  road,  or  rather  trail,  for  it 
was  nothing  more. 

There  was  nothing  attractive  about  the  aspect  of  the 


246  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

house  or  its  surroundings,  but  the  sun  was  near  his  set- 
ting, the  next  human  habitation  was  in  ail  probability  ten 
or  fifteen  miles  further  on,  and  the  way  to  it  lay  through 
a  dense  forest  where,  doubtless,  panthers,  bears  and 
wolves  abounded. 

A  moment's  consultation  led  to  the  decision  that  they 
would  pass  the  night  here  if  they  could  get  lodging  in 
the  house. 

An  elderly  woman  of  slatternly  appearance,  hair 
unkempt,  clothing  torn  and  soiled,  had  come  to  the 
door. 

"  What's  wanted  ?  "  she  asked  in  a  harsh  voice. 

"  Shelter  for  the  night  for  men  and  beasts,"  returned 
Clendenin,  who  had  been  unanimously  chosen  leader  of 
the  party. 

"  Well,  I  dunno  'bout  it,  I  haven't  no  man  about,  but 
if  ye'll  'tend  to  yer  beasts  yerselves,  yer  can  stay." 

They  agreed  to  the  conditions.  She  pointed  out  the 
stable,  and  they  led  their  horses  thither,  curried  and  fed 
them,  remarking  to  each  other,  meanwhile,  that  they  did 
not  like  the  woman's  looks  ;  she  had  a  bad  counte- 
nance. 

She  had  gone  back  into  the  house,  and  as  she  moved 
here  and  there  about  her  work,  muttered  discontentedly 
to  herself, 

"  There's  too  many  o'  'em.  Bill,  he  won't  like  it.  But 
I  wonder  if  the  right  one's  among  'em.  Wish  I 
knowed." 

Hearing  their  voices  outside  again,  she  stepped  to  the 
door. 

"  Ye'll  be  a  wantin'  supper,  won't  ye  ?  " 

"  Yes,  let  us  have  it  as  soon  as  you  can,  for  we're  tired 
and  hungry." 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         247 

"  She  mout  put  some  pizen  in  de  wittles,  massa  doc- 
tah,  don't  you  tink  ? "  whispered  Zeb,  close  at  Ken- 
neth's ear,  and  shuddering  as  he  spoke. 

"  If  you  think  so,  it  might  be  as  well  to  watch  her," 
was  the  quiet  half-amused  answer. 

"  Dat  I  will,  sah  !  "  and  Zeb  bustled  in  and  sat  himself 
down  between  the  table  and  the  wide  chimney,  where  he 
could  have  a  full  view  of  all  the  preparations  for  the 
coming  meal. 

The  woman  scowled  at  him  and  broadly  hinted  that  he 
was  in  the  way,  but  Zeb  was  obtuse  and  would  not  take 
a  hint. 

He  watched  her  narrowly  as  she  mixed  corn-bread  and 
put  it  to  bake,  as  she  made  the  rye  coffee,  and  fried  the 
ham  and  eggs.  It  would  have  been  impossible  for  her  to 
put  a  single  ingredient  into  any  of  these  without  his 
knowledge. 

Nor  did  he  relax  his  scrutiny  until  he  had  eaten  his 
own  supper,  after  seeing  the  gentlemen  safely  through 
theirs. 

"  She  mout  put  sumpin  into  de  cups  wen  she  pours 
de  coffee,"  he  had  said  to  himself. 

It  did  not  escape  him  that  she  listened  with  a  sort  of 
concealed  eagerness  to  every  word  that  was  said  by  her 
guests,  and  that  she  started  slightly  and  looked  earnestly 
at  Dr.  Clendenin  the  first  time  he  was  addressed  byname 
in  her  hearing. 

"  What  shall  we  call  you,  mother  ?  "  asked  the  hunter, 
lighting  his  pipe  at  her  fire  for  an  after  supper  smoke. 

"  'Taint  perticlar,  ye  can  just  call  me  that,  if  ye  like," 
she  returned  dryly. 

"You  don't  live  here  alone,"  he  remarked,  glancing  at 
a  coat  hanging  on  the  wall.  "  Where's  your  man  now  ? " 


248  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Off  a  huntin'.     Where's  your  woman  ?  " 

"  Don't  know,  hain't  found  her  yet,"  he  laughed,  taking 
the  pipe  between  his  lips  and  sauntering  to  the  door,  out- 
side of  which  his  companions  were  grouped. 

The  air  there  was  slightly  damp  and  chill,  but  far 
preferable  to  that  within,  which  reeked  with  a  mixture  of 
smells  of  stale  tobacco,  garlic,  boiled  cabbage  and  filth 
combined. 

It  was  growing  dark. 

The  woman  lighted  a  candle  and  set  it  on  the  table,  mut- 
tering half  aloud,  as  Zeb  rose  and  pushed  back  his  chair  : 

"  I'm  glad  you're  done  at  last." 

Then  she  bustled  about  putting  the  food  away  and 
washing  her  dishes. 

Johnson  finished  his  pipe  and  proposed  retiring  to  bed, 
as  they  wanted  to  make  an  early  start  in  the  morning. 

A  general  assent  was  given  and  the  woman  was  asked 
to  show  them  where  they  were  to  sleep. 

She  vouchsafed  no  answer  in  words,  but  taking  from 
the  mantel  a  saucer  filled  with  grease,  in  which  a  bit  of 
rag  was  floating,  she  set  it  on  the  table,  lighted  one  end 
of  the  rag,  picked  up  the  candle,  and  motioning  them  to 
follow  her,  ascended  a  step-ladder  to  the  story  above  ;  let- 
ting fall  drops  of  melted  tallow  here  and  there  as  she  went. 

Reaching  the  top  of  the  ladder,  they  found  themselves 
in  an  outer  room  that  had  the  appearance  of  being  used 
as  a  depository  for  every  sort  of  rubbish. 

Crossing  this,  their  conductress  opened  a  door  leading 
into  a  smaller  apartment,  communicating,  by  an  inner 
door,  with  still  another. 

There  was  a  bed  in  each  and  a  few  other  articles  of 
furniture,  all  of  the  roughest  kind.  Dirty  and  untidy  in 
the  extreme,  the  rooms  were  by  no  means  inviting  to  our 


THE   THORX  IN  THE  NEST.  249 

travellers,  but  it  was  Hobson's  choice,  and  they  found  no 
fault  to  the  hostess. 

"  You  white  folks  kin  sleep  in  them  two  beds,"  she  said, 
with  a  wave  of  her  hand  toward  first  one  and  then  the 
other,  "  and  the  nigger,  he  kin  lop  down  outside  on  them 
horse  blankets,  if  he  likes." 

And  setting  the  candle  down  on  top  of  a  chest  of 
drawers,  she  stalked  away  without  another  word. 

"  Massa  doctah,  and  all  you  gentlemens,  please  sahs, 
lemme  stay  in  heyah,"  pleaded  Zeb  in  an  undertone  of 
affright.  "  Dat  woman  she  look  at  me  down  stairs  'sif 
she  like  to  stick  dat  carvin'  knife  right  froo  me." 

No  one  answered  at  the  moment ;  they  were  all  send- 
ing suspicious  glances  about  the  two  rooms,  and  Zeb 
quietly  closed  and  secured  the  door. 

"  Ki  !  massas,  jus'  look  a  heyah  ! "  he  cried  in  an 
excited  whisper,  and  pointing  with  his  finger. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  they  asked,  turning  to  look. 

Zeb  sprang  for  the  candle,  and  bringing  it  close  showed 
a  small  hole  in  the  door. 

"  A  bullet  hole,  sure  as  you  live,"  exclaimed  Grey,  who 
was  nearest. 

"  And  exactly  opposite  the  bed,"  added  Jones,  stepping 
to  it  and  beginning  to  throw  back  the  covers. 

In  an  instant  they  were  all  at  his  side,  and  there  was  a 
universal,  half  suppressed  exclamation  of  horror  and  dis- 
may, as  a  hard  straw  mattress,  much  stained  with  blood, 
was  exposed  to  their  view  by  the  flickering  light  of  the 
candle,  which  Zeb  in  his  intense  excitement  had  nearly 
dropped. 

They  looked  at  those  tell-tale  stains  and  then  into  each 
other's  faces.  A  trifle  pale  at  first  most  of  them  were, 
but  calm  and  courageous. 


250  THE   THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Clendenin  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  We  have  evidently  fallen  into  a  den  of  thieves  and 
murderers,  but  by  the  help  of  the  Lord  we  shall  escape 
their  snares." 

"  Yes,  we'll  trust  in  God,  boys,  and  keep  our  powder 
dry,"  said  Grey. 

"  And  Heaven  send  us  a  more  peaceful  end  than  some 
poor  wretch  has  found,"  added  Collins,  pointing  with  a 
sympathetic  sigh  to  the  gory  evidences. 

"  We  must  keep  a  sharp  lookout,  for  we  may  depend 
that  thar  hunter'ii  return  to  his  wife's  embraces  afore 
mornin',"  remarked  Johnson,  grimly. 

They  at  once  set  about  making  a  thorough  examina- 
tion of  the  rooms,  but  found  nothing  more  to  arouse 
uneasiness,  except  the  fact  that  the  window  of  one  opened 
out  upon  the  roof  of  a  shed,  by  means  of  which  it  was 
easily  accessible  from  the  ground. 

Then  their  plans  were  quickly  laid.  They  would  all 
occupy  that  one  room,  and  take  turns  in  watching,  two 
at  a  time  ;  thus  giving  to  each  about  two-thirds  of  the 
night  for  rest  and  sleep. 

The  arms  were  examined  and  every  man's  weapon  laid 
close  at  his  hand,  ready  for  instant  use. 

These  preparations  completed,  Grey  turned  to  Ken- 
neth, saying  softly  : 

"  Doc,  we  seem  pretty  well  able  to  defend  ourselves  in 
case  of  attack,  but  it  wouldn't  hurt  to  ask  help  from  a 
higher  Power." 

"  No,"  said  Kenneth,  kneeling  down,  the  others  doing 
the  same  ;  then,  in  a  few  appropriate,  low-breathed 
words,  he  asked  his  Father  to  have  them  in  his  kind  care 
and  keeping,  and  if  it  was  His  will  grant  them  safety 
without  the  shedding  of  blood. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

DOWN-STAIRS  the  woman  was  moving  about  her  work, 
stopping  now  and  then  for  a  moment  to  listen  to  the 
sounds  overhead. 

"  Why  don't  they  get  to  bed  and  to  sleep  !  "  she  mut- 
tered at  length  with  an  oath.  "  Bill  and  the  boys  must 
be  sharp  set  for  their  supper  and  will  come  in  most 
ready  to  take  my  head  off.  'Tain't  no  fault  o'  mine,  but 
that'll  not  make  no  difference.  Well,  I'll  call  'em  any- 
how, for  them  fellers  ain't  comin'  down  agin  to-night." 

So  saying  she  set  her  light  in  the  window  and  hurried 
her  culinary  operations,  for  she  was  getting  ready  a 
second  and  more  plentiful  meal  than  the  one  she  had  set 
before  the  travellers. 

Ere  many  moments  four  men,  great  broad-shouldered, 
brawny,  rough  looking  fellows,  on  whose  faces  ignorance, 
vice  and  cruelty  were  plainly  stamped,  came  creeping 
stealthily  in  at  the  open  door. 

"  Well,  old  girl,  what  have  you  bagged  ? "  asked  the 
eldest,  in  whom  we  recognize  Bill  Shark,  the  confederate 
of  Brannon  and  Lyttleton.  "  I  conclude  it's  somethin', 
since  we've  been  kept  a  starvin'  till  this  time  o'  night." 

His  tone,  though  suppressed,  was  savage,  and  his  look 
angry  and  sullen. 

She  held  up  a  warning  finger. 

"  Hush-sh-sh  !  they're  up  and  awake  yit.  More  quiet, 
boys.  Let  up  now,  and  go  to  work.  The  vittles  is  all 
on  table," 


252  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Are  ye  a  goin'  to  tell  me  what  I  asked  ?  "  demanded 
her  husband  in  a  fierce  undertone,  as  he  sat  down  and 
began  helping  himself  liberally  to  the  smoking  viands, 
but  looking  more  at  her  than  at  them. 

"  It's  him,"  she  answered,  with  a  slight  chuckle  ;  "  and 
he's  as  nice  lookin'  and  soft  spoken  a  chap  as  ever  you 
see." 

"  An'  what  o*  that  ?  "  sneered  one  of  the  sons.  "  His 
purty  face  ain't  a  goin'  to  save  him." 

"  Maybe  not,  Abner  ;  but  I'm  afeard  they're  too  strong 
fur  ye." 

"  How  many  ?  " 

"  Six,  countin'  the  nigger,  and  one  on  'em's  Tom 
Johnson." 

This  announcement  was  received  with  a  volley  of  oaths 
and  curses,  not  loud  but  deep,  Bill  adding  : 

"  He'll  count  two  at  least." 

"  The  other  two  fellers'll  have  to  come  and  lend  a 
hand  whether  or  no,"  said  Abner  gloomily.  "  Don't 
you  let  'em  off,  dad.  With  them  and  Brannon  we'll  be 
seven.  And  if  we  come  on  'em  asleep,  why,  we'll  not 
have  such  hard  work,  I  take  it." 

"  Time  they  were  asleep  now.  How  long  since  they 
went  up  there  ?  " 

There  was  an  angry  gleam  in  Bill's  eyes  as  he  turned 
them  upon  his  wife. 

"  Long  enough  to  have  got  to  sleep  twic't  over,  I 
should  think.  But  they  hain't  done  it.  Hark  !  they're 
a  movin'  about,  and  talkin'  too,  I  believe." 

"  Then  you  didn't  mind  my  orders,  and  ought  to  be 
licked." 

'A  volley  of  oaths  followed,  and  he  half  rose  from  his 
chair  and  seized  her  by  the  arm. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  253 

But  his  sons  interfered. 

"Are  you  mad,  old  man  ?"  pulling  him  back  into  his 
seat  ;  "  we'll  not  have  a  ghost  of  a  chance  if  you  kick  up 
a  row  now." 

He  yielded,  though  with  an  ill  grace,  and  the  woman, 
not  in  the  least  disconcerted  by  his  brutal  behavior,  said 
in  her  ordinary  tone,  as  she  replenished  his  empty 
cup  : 

"  'Twasn't  no  fault  o'  mine,  Bill  ;  I'd  a  drugged  'em, 
every  one,  if  that  nigger  would  a  took  his  eyes  off  o'  me 
for  a  single  moment  ;  but  it  did  beat  all,  the  way  he 
watched  me  back  and  forad  and  all  the  time.  I  hadn't 
the  least  mite  of  a  chance." 

This  explanation  seemed  to  appease  the  man's  wrath, 
and  the  meal  was  concluded  without  further  disturbance. 

A  whispered  consultation  followed  ;  then  two  of  the 
younger  ruffians  went  out  and  plunged  into  the  forest  in 
the  direction  from  whence  they  had  come. 

At  no  very  great  distance  they  came  out  upon  a  little 
clearing  where  stood  a  tiny  cabin,  roughly  but  strongly 
built  of  unhewn  logs,  no  window  save  an  aperture  scarce 
a  foot  square  near  the  roof,  and  the  one  door,  of  solid 
oak  planks,  furnished  with  heavy  bolts  and  bars  upon  the 
outside. 

This  was  the  prison  intended  by  Lyttleton  for  the  safe 
keeping  of  Clendenin,  the  man  to  whom  he  owed  his 
life. 

Heretofore  it  had  been  used  by  the  Sharks  as  a  depos- 
itory for  their  ill-gotten  gains. 

Near  at  hand,  but  concealed  from  view  by  the  thick 
undergrowth,  the  Englishman  and  his  valet  lay  sleeping 
upon  the  ground,  wrapped  each  in  his  blanket,  and  with 
sword  and  gun  within  reach  of  his  hand. 


254  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

A  few  minutes'  search  disclosed  their  whereabouts  to 
the  Sharks,  and  it  was  no  gentle  waking  that  ensued. 

"  Ho  !  rouse  up,  I  tell  ye,  and  wake  your  master  !  " 
growled  Abner,  touching  Hans  with  his  foot.  "  You're 
both  wanted  at  the  house." 

"  Yaas,"  grunted  Hans,  sleepily,  "  but  I  dinks  you 
petter  leaves  mynheer  to  dake  his  sleep." 

"  What  is  it  ?  What's  wanted  this  time  of  night  ? " 
demanded  Lyttleton,  starting  up  and  glancing  about  him 
in  no  amiable  mood. 

"  You're  wanted,"  was  the  gruff,  unceremonious  reply. 
"  Game's  bagged,  but  such  a  lot  we  must  come  on  'em 
as  strong  as  possible." 

"  What  !  you've  got  Clendenin  ?  " 

Lyttleton's  tone  was  jubilant. 

"  Humph !  he's  there,  but  he  ain't  took  yet,  and 
there's  four  more  stout  fellows  beside  the  nigger,  and 
one  on  'ems  ekal  to  any  two  o'  us.  So  come  along,  both 
o'  ye." 

"  No,"  said  Lyttleton,  "  you  have  undertaken  the  job, 
and  it's  no  part  of  my  plan  to  assist  in  the  fray.  I'll  pay 
liberally  when  it's  done  ;  but  as  I  told  you  in  the  first 
place,  I  can't  have  Clendenin  gef  sight  of  either  my  face 
or  that  of  my  valet." 

"  Black  your  faces,  or  tie  a  handkercher  over  'em," 
suggested  Abner's  brother. 

"  No  ;  he'd  recognize  our  voices." 

"  You're  a coward,"  sneered  Abner.  "  No  use 

argufying  with  the  white-livered  critter,  Josh.  He  won't 
git  his  job  done,  'tain't  likely,  if  he  don't  help,  that's  all. 
Come  on  back.  P'raps  Brannon's  there  by  now,  and  if 
the  fellers  '11  only  quiet  down  to  sleep,  I  for  one  am 
willin'  to  try  it  for  the  sake  o'  the  plunder,  and  the  cash 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  255 

we'll  have  in  hand  afore  we  let  these  ere  chaps  have 
their  way  with  the  one  they're  wantin'  to  git  shut  of." 

"  What  a  vulgar  wretch  !  "  muttered  Lyttleton,  in  a 
tone  of  extreme  disgust,  as  the  two  ruffians  turned  and 
left  the  spot  to  make  their  way  rapidly  back  to  the 
house. 

They  found  Brannon  there,  waiting  with  the  others 
for  the  slight  occasional  sounds  overhead  to  cease,  as 
they  dared  not  make  the  desired  attack  with  their 
intended  victims  awake  and  prepared  to  meet  and  repel  it. 

But  they  waited  in  vain  ;  our  travellers  hearing  men's 
voices,  conversing  in  subdued  tones  in  the  room  below, 
understood  for  what  they  were  waiting,  and  not  wishing 
for  a  fight,  took  care  to  let  them  know  that  they  had  not 
all  succumbed  to  sleep. 

In  fact  the  hunter,  listening  intently  with  his  ear  to  a 
crack  in  the  floor,  heard  the  woman  say,  "  Not  yet, 
they're  not  asleep  yet,  for  I  hear  'em  movin'." 

"  Ye  do,  eh  ?  "  he  growled  in  undertone,  "  well,  ye'll 
likely  keep  on  a  hearin'  it  till  them  he  wolves  o'  yourn 
goes  back  to  their  den  in  the  woods." 

At  last  as  a  faint  streak  of  dawn  began  to  show  itself 
above  the  eastern  horizon,  the  ruffians  drew  close 
together  and  held  a  whispered  consultation,  the  result 
of  which  was  the  decision  to  give  up  attacking  here, 
leave  at  once,  and  hastening  on  ahead  of  the  travellers, 
post  themselves  at  a  certain  spot  favorable  for  an  ambus- 
cade, where  they  would  play  the  highwayman,  "  relieving 
the  fellers  o*  their  plunder,"  as  they  expressed  it,  and 
letting  them  go  with  their  lives  if  they  were  wise  enough 
not  to  show  fight,  but  taking  Clendenin  prisoner  for  the 
sake  of  slaking  Brannon's  thirst  for  revenge  and  obtain- 
ing Lyttleton's  offered  reward. 


256  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

The  first  part  of  their  plan  was  at  once  put  into  execu- 
tion, and  with  no  small  sense  of  relief  our  travellers  heard 
them  depart. 

"  Up,  boys,  now's  our  time,"  said  the  hunter  ;  "  day's 
breakin',  the  thieves  has  left  for  the  present,  and  we'd 
best  git  out  o'  this  instanter." 

The  others  being  of  the  same  opinion,  they  hastily 
gathered  up  their  guns  and  saddle-bags,  unbarred  the 
door,  and  as  nearly  in  a  body  as  might  be,  the  hunter 
taking  the  lead,  descended  the  step-ladder  to  the  room 
below. 

The  woman  nodding  in  her  chair  beside  the  smoulder- 
ing embers  of  the  fire,  was  its  only  occupant. 

She  started  up,  saying,  "Why  you're  airly,  ain't  ye? 
I  hadn't  thought  of  gettin'  breakfast  yet." 

"  Never  mind,  we  don't  want  any,  mother,"  said  John- 
son dryly. 

"  Why,  ye  ain't  goin'  a'ready  ?  ye'd  better  stay  for 
breakfast.  I'll  not  be  long  gettin'  it." 

"  No,"  they  answered,  "  we  must  start  at  once." 

"  Ye  didn't  sleep  much,  I  think,"  she  remarked  sul- 
lenly, following  them  to  the  door. 

"  How  do  you  know  ? "  queried  Johnson,  giving  her  a 
sharp  look. 

"  Oh,  I  was  up  myself,  and  I  heard  ye  movin* 
around." 

Clendenin  stepped  back  to  enquire,  and  pay  her 
charges  for  the  entertainment  of  the  party,  and  thought 
she  eyed  him  strangely  during  that  transaction,  with  a 
sort  of  repressed  eagerness  and  cupidity,  and  some- 
what as  if  she  were  trying  to  estimate  his  strength,  and 
calculate  whether  she  dare  measure  it  with  her  own,  and 
would  gain  anything  thereby. 


THE   77/0  A' <Y  IN  THE  A'EST.  257 

He  puzzled  over  it  for  a  moment  as  he  hastened  to 
rejoin  his  companions,  who  were  at  the  stable  busied  in 
saddling  their  horses,  then  dismissed  it  from  his  thoughts 
with  the  conclusion  that  it  was  his  purse  she  wanted  to 
secure. 

It  was  now  quite  light  and  the  sun  began  to  show  his 
face  above  the  treetops,  as  they  mounted  and  away, 
felicitating  themselves  on  their  fortunate  escape. 

"  I  see  now,"  said  Kenneth  in  tones  of  thankfulness, 
"  why  that  seemingly  unfortunate  delay  was  sent  me.  It 
was  certainly  a  special  providence." 

"  Ho,  comrades  !  "  cried  the  hunter,  suddenly  reining  in 
his  steed  across  the  path  so  as  to  bring  the  whole  party 
to  a  halt.  "  I  have  a  thought !  " 

"  Better  keep  it  for  a  nest  egg  then,  Tom,"  laughed 
Collins,  overflowing  with  animal  spirits  in  view  of  their 
recent  deliverance. 

"  No,  I  hadn't,  Sam  ;  I'd  better  by  half  use  it  to  save 
our  plunder,  if  not  our  lives.  You  must  know,  lads, 
that  Tom  Johnson's  no  stranger  to  these  here  woods} 
and  knows  the  trail  better'n  the  doc  there,  and  the  rest 
o'  you  readin'  men,  knows  a  book." 

"  Now,  Tom,  my  boy,  that  hasn't  an  over  modest 
sound.  But  what's  that  thought  of  yours  ?  Let's  have  it 
at  once." 

"  Listen  then.  About  six  or  seven  miles  furder  on, 
there's  a  place  where  the  trail  runs  through  a  little  valley, 
between  two  hills  that's  covered  thick  with  trees  and 
bushes  ;  and  now  I  tell  you  them  cut-throats  is  just 
lyin'  in  wait  there,  Injun  style,  to  ketch  us  between  two 
fires  as  we  come  along." 

"  Then  what's  to  be  done  ? "  was  asked  in  various  tones 
of  inquiry  and  dismay. 


258  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Why,  we'll  just  keep  out  o'  the  trap.  I'll  take  ye 
round  it.  I  know  the  way,  and  though  it'll  give  us  a 
few  more  miles,  and  hard  ones  at  that,  it'll  be  better 
than  makin'  ourselves  a  target,  or  rather  half  a  dozen 
of  'em,  for  those  scoundrels  to  shoot  at.  Won't  it  ? " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  from  all  the  voices  in  unison. 

The  hunter  wheeled  his  horse  and  galloped  on,  the 
rest  following  in  single  file. 

He  kept  the  trail  for  a  while,  then  struck  off  into  the 
thick  woods,  and  for  a  couple  of  hours  they  had  a  toil- 
some time,  pushing  their  way  through  thickets,  leaping 
logs  and  fording  one  or  two  streams ;  then  taking  the 
ordinary  trail  again,  beyond  the  point  of  danger,  they 
were  able  to  go  forward  with  comparative  ease  and  com- 
fort. 

With  the  purpose  to  make  his  assaulting  party  as  strong 
as  possible,  Bill  Shark  sent  Brannon  to  urge  Lyttleton 
and  his  valet  to  join  them  where  they  were  to  lie  in 
ambush. 

Lyttleton  once  again  roused  from  slumber,  received 
the  messenger  surlily,  declined  to  go  with  him,  but  fear- 
ful of  the  consequences  of  utter  refusal  to  comply 
with  the  demand,  for  the  message  was  couched  in  terms 
that  make  it  such,  promised  to  join  them  shortly,  after 
refreshing  himself  with  food  ;  and  made  Brannon  de- 
scribe the  locality  and  manner  of  reaching  it  so  partic- 
ularly as  to  enable  him  to  find  it  without  a  guide. 

The  moment  Brannon  was  out  of  earshot,  Lyttleton 
turned  to  his  valet. 

"  What  say  you,  Hans,  are  those  fellows  to  be  trusted 
not  to  turn  on  us,  if  it  happens  to  suit  their  fancy,  after 
they  have  finished  with  the  other  party  ?  " 

"  Mynheer,  I  dinks  dey  is  von  bad  lot." 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  259 

"  Then  we  won't  put  ourselves  in  their  power.  Listen  ; 
we  will  not  join  them,  but  will  hide  in  some  place  where 
we  can  watch  their  proceedings  unknown  to  them  ;  and 
if  events  don't  turn  out  as  we  could  wish,  we  will  slip 
away  through  the  woods  and  continue  our  journey,  and 
so  escape  their  hands.  Now  kindle  a  fire  and  prepare 
me  a  cup  of  strong  coffee." 

With  no  small  difficulty,  and  damage  to  their  clothing 
from  thorns  and  briers,  master  and  man  at  length  suc- 
ceeded in  taking  up  a  position  advantageous  for  the  car- 
rying out  of  Lyttleton's  plans.  Shark's  party  had  divided, 
posting  themselves  three  on  one  side  of  the  little  valley, 
three  on  the  other,  and  less  than  half  way  up  the  hills. 

Lyttleton's  ambush  was  on  the  eastern  of  the  two  hills, 
considerably  higher  up,  where  from  behind  a  screen  of 
bushes  and  interlacing  vines  he  could  see  all  that  might 
occur  in  the  valley  below. 

He  found,  to  his  satisfaction,  that  he  could  also  over- 
hear whatever  was  said  by  the  ruffians  in  an  ordinary 
tone  of  voice. 

The  first  sound  that  greeted  his  ear  was  a  sullen  growl 
from  the  elder  Shark,  familiarly  styled  Bill. 

"  What's  a-keepin'  that  thar  confounded  Britisher  and 
his  Dutchman  ?  I  tell  you,  lads,  they're  a  brace  o'  cow- 
ards and  don't  mean  to  take  no  share  o'  this  here  fray. 
I'd  go  after  'em  and  give  'em  a  lesson  if  I  was  sure  o' 
gettin'  back  in  time,  but  the  other  fellers  may  be  along 
now  any  minnit." 

"  I  likes  to  send  de  lie  de  droat  down  off  dot  von  pig 
schoundrel ! "  muttered  Hans,  laying  his  hand  on  the 
hunting-knife  in  his  belt. 

An  imperative  gesture  from  Lyttleton  commanded 
silence.* 


260  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Brannon  was  saying  something  in  answer  to  Bill's 
remark,  but  the  tones  were  so  low  that  Lyttleton  could 
catch  only  a  word  here  and  there,  not  enough  to  iearn  its 
purport. 

A  long  silence  followed,  broken  occasionally  by  a  mut- 
tered oath  or  exclamation  of  impatience,  then  a  low- 
toned  consultation,  which  resulted  in  the  despatching  of 
one  of  the  younger  villains  to  reconnoitre  and  try  to  dis- 
cover why  their  intended  victims  delayed  their  appear- 
ance. 

Another  long  waiting,  and  then  the  scout  returned. 

"  Been  all  the  way  back  to  the  house,"  he  reported, 
loud  enough  for  every  word  to  reach  the  listeners  above, 
"  and  not  a  sign  of  'em  to  be  seen.  The  old  woman  says 
they  left  thar  at  sun-up,  so  if  any  o'  you  kin  tell  what's 
become  of  'em  it's  more'n  I  kin." 

"  Must  ha'  smelt  a  rat  somehow,  and  pushed  through 
the  woods  another  way,"  cried  Bill,  pouring  out  a  volley 
of  oaths  and  curses  so  blasphemous,  and  in  tones  so  fero- 
cious, that  Lyttleton's  blood  almost  curdled  in  his  veins. 

Then  his  heart  nearly  stood  still  with  affright  as  the 
ruffian  went  on,  in  the  same  savage  tones : 

"  Well,  there  ain't  no  use  in  waitin'  here  no  longer. 
They've  got  off  safe  and  sound,  and  we  not  a  penny  the 
richer;  but  there's  that  Britisher,  with  a  pocket  full  of  tin 
that'll  come  as  good  to  us  as  the  other  fellers'.  Let's 
hunt  him  up  and  help  ourselves.  Easy  work  it'll  be,  six 
agin  two." 

Hans  and  his  master  exchanged  glances.  Lyttleton 
held  up  a  finger  in  token  of  silence,  and  again  they 
strained  their  ears  to  hear  the  talk  going  on  below. 

The  ruffians  seemed  to  be  of  one  mind  in  regard  to 
robbing  him,  impelled  to  it  by  their  cupidity  and  their 


THE  THORN-  IN  THE  NEST.         261 

indignation  at  his  failure  to  join  them  according  to 
promise. 

Fortunately  for  him  they  had  no  suspicion  of  his  vicin- 
ity, and  presently  set  off  in  a  body  to  search  for  him  at 
the  scene  of  his  late  bivouac. 

The  moment  they  were  out  of  sight  and  hearing  he 
and  Hans  rose,  scrambled  down  the  hill,  mounted  their 
horses,  which  they  had  left  at  its  foot,  concealed  in  the 
thick  wood,  and  striking  into  the  trail  at  the  nearest 
point,  pushed  on  their  way  eastward  with  all  possible 
despatch. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

CLENDENIN'S  heart  beat  quickly  between  hope  and 
fear.  He  was  nearing  the  home  of  his  childhood  and 
knew  not  in  what  state  he  should  find  the  dear  ones 
there,  for  he  had  had  no  later  news  of  them  than  that 
contained  in  the  letter  written  so  many  weeks  ago,  and 
received  the  night  before  he  left  Chillicothe. 

He  had  pressed  on  as  rapidly  as  circumstances  would 
allow,  yet  the  journey  had  been  long  and  tedious,  made 
to  seem  doubly  so  by  his  haste  and  anxiety;  for  faith  was 
not  always  strong  enough  to  triumph  over  doubts  and 
fears. 

He  had  passed  the  previous  night  some  ten  miles  west 
of  Glen  Forest,  and  taking  an  early  start  entered  the 
little  valley  two  hours  before  noon. 

It  was  a  sweet,  bright  summer  day,  trees  dressed  in 
their  richest  robes  of  green,  wild  wood  flowers  scattered 
in  lavish  profusion  on  every  side,  fields  clothed  in  ver- 
dure, the  air  filled  with  the  music  of  birds  and  insects,  the 
bleating  of  sheep,  the  lowing  of  kine,  and  the  fretting, 
gurgling,  and  babbling  of  the  mountain  stream,  as  it 
danced  and  sparkled  in  the  sun. 

Each  familiar  scene  had  charms  for  Kenneth's  eye, 
yet  he  lingered  not  a  moment,  but  urged  Romeo  to  a 
brisk  canter,  until,  as  he  came  in  sight  of  the  house,  his 
eye  was  suddenly  caught  by  the  gleam  of  something 
white  among  the  trees  that  bordered  the  rivulet. 

He  halted,  looked  more  closely  at  the  object,  then 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         263 

hastily  dismounted,  and,  giving  the  bridle  into  Zeb's 
hands,  bade  him  go  on  to  the  house  and  say  that  he  was 
with  Miss  Marian,  and  they  would  both  come  in  pres- 
ently. 

Marian  had  wandered  out  an  hour  ago  to  the  spot 
where  she  and  Lyttleton  had  sat  together  for  the  last 
time,  on  the  day  he  bade  her  a  final  good-bye. 

It  had  been  her  favorite  resort  ever  since.  Thither  she 
would  carry  book  or  work,  or  go  to  sit  with  folded  hands 
and  dream  away  the  time  that  seemed  so  long,  so  very, 
very  long  till  he  would  come  again. 

That  was  all  she  was  doing  now,  seated  on  the  grass 
with  her  arms  clasped  about  Gaius's  neck,  her  cheek 
resting  on  his  head,  and  her  eyes  fixed  with  mournful 
gaze  upon  the  rippling  water  at  her  feet. 

Kenneth  drew  near  with  so  noiseless  a  step  that  she 
knew  not  of  his  coming,  and  he  had  leisure  to  study  her 
face  for  several  minutes  while  she  was  entirely  uncon- 
scious of  his  scrutiny. 

His  breast  heaved,  his  lip  quivered,  and  his  eyes  filled 
as  he  gazed  ;  for  a  sad  change  had  come  over  the  fair, 
young  face  since  last  he  looked  upon  it,  the  bloom  was 
all  gone  from  cheek  and  lip,  the  temple  looked  sunken, 
the  eyes  unnaturally  large,  and,  oh,  the  unfathomable 
depth  of  sadness  in  them  !  And  the  slight  girlish  figure 
had  lost  its  roundness ;  the  small,  shapely  hands  were 
very  thin  and  white. 

A  bird  suddenly  swooped  down  from  a  tree  and 
skimmed  along  just  above  the  stream.  Caius  uttered  a 
short,  sharp  bark  and  made  a  spring  toward  it,  and  with  a 
deep  sigh  Marian  awoke,  released  him,  and  turning  her 
eyes  in  Kenneth's  direction  gave  a  joyful  cry. 

In  a  moment  she  was  clasped  in  his  arms,  her  head 


264  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

pillowed  on  his  breast,  with  convulsive  sobbing  and 
floods  of  tears,  while  he  held  her  close  and  soothed  her 
with  tender  words  and  caresses. 

"  O,  Kenneth,  how  glad  I  am  you  have  come  at  last  !  " 
she  said  when  she  could  command  her  voice.  "  It  seemed 
so  long,  so  very  long  that  we  had  to  wait ;  and  yet  you 
are  here  sooner  than  mother  thought  you  could  come." 

"  I  made  all  the  haste  I  could,  dear  child,"  he 
answered,  "  starting  early  the  morning  after  the  letter 
reached  me  with  the  news  that  you  were  not  well.  What 
ails  you,  Marian,  dear  ? " 

"  I'm  not  sick,  Kenneth,"  she  said,  a  vivid  blush  sud- 
denly suffusing  her  cheek. 

"  But  you  have  grown  very  thin  and  pale,  and  do  not 
seem  strong,"  he  said,  regarding  her  with  tender,  sorrow- 
ful scrutiny.  "  Something  is  amiss  with  you,  and  surely 
you  will  tell  me  what  it  is,  that  I  may  try  to  relieve  you  ?  " 

She  only  hid  her  face  on  his  shoulder  with  a  fresh 
burst  of  weeping. 

A  terrible  fear  oppressed  him  as  he  went  on  ques- 
tioning her  about  the  symptoms  of  her  disease,  she  still 
insisting  that  she  had  no  pain  and  was  not  sick,  though 
she  could  not  deny  loss  of  appetite,  weakness  and  pal- 
pitation of  the  heart  upon  slight  exertion. 

At  length  her  reserve  gave  way  before  his  loving 
solicitude  ;  for  she  had  been  wont  to  confide  her  childish 
joys  and  sorrows  to  him  in  the  old  days  before  he  went 
to  Ohio,  and  could  tell  him  now  what  she  would  not 
breathe  to  any  other  creature. 

"  O,  Kenneth  !  "  she  cried,  "  can't  you  see  that  my 
body  is  not  sick,  that  it's  my  heart  that  is  breaking  ?  " 

His  very  lips  grew  white. 

"  What  can  you  mean,  my  poor,  poor  child  ?  "  he  asked 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        265 

huskily,  drawing  her  closer  to  him  with  a  quick  protecting 
gesture,  as  if  he  would  shield  her  from  the  threatened 
danger. 

"  Oh,"  she  cried  in  bitter  despairing  tones,  "  I  thought 
he  loved  me,  he  said  it  with  his  eyes  and  with  his  tongue  ; 
he  said  I  was  the  sweetest,  fairest,  dearest  girl  he  ever 
saw,  and  he  promised  to  come  again  in  a  year  at  the  very 
farthest  ;  but  more  than  a  year  has  gone  by  and  never  a 
word  from  him." 

His  first  emotion  as  he  listened  to  this  burst  of 
anguish  was  utter  astonishment  ;  the  next  the  fear  that 
she  was  not  in  her  right  mind,  for  he  had  every  reason  to 
suppose  that  she  had  never  met  other  than  to  exchange 
the  merest  civilities  of  life  with  any  man. 

Her  mother  had  no  suspicion  of  the  real  cause  of  her 
child's  suffering.  Marian  had  not  confided  in  her,  had 
never  mentioned  Lyttleton's  name  ;  and  the  death  of  the 
Misses  Burns,  followed  very  shortly  by  the  removal  to 
a  distance  of  their  maid  Kitty,  had  left  no  one  in  the 
neighborhood  who  had  been  cognizant  of  even  that  small 
part  of  the  intercourse  between  Marian  and  Lyttleton  of 
which  Woodland  was  the  scene. 

But  the  ice  once  broken,  the  pent  up  waters  of  the 
poor  child's  anguish  speedily  swept  away  every  barrier 
of  reserve,  and  the  whole  sad  story  was  poured  out  into 
Kenneth's  sympathizing  ear. 

It  brought  relief  from  the  fear  for  her  reason,  but  filled 
his  heart  with  grief  and  pity  for  her,  mingled  with  burning 
indignation  against  the  author  of  her  woe. 

"  And  who  is  this  wretch  ? "  he  cried  in  tones  quivering 
with  intense  emotion. 

The  answer  was  so  low  that  he  bent  his  ear  almost 
to  her  lips  to  catch  it. 


266  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Lyttleton  !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  Lysander  Lyttleton  ? 
I  know  the  man ;  and  Marian,  my  poor  deceived  and 
wronged  little  sister,  he  is  utterly  unworthy  of  even  your 
friendship  ;  'twould  be  the  consorting  of  the  dove  with 
the  vulture." 

She  gave  a  sharp  cry  of  pain. 

"  O,  Kenneth,  Kenneth,  you  can't  mean  it  ? " 

It  was  hard  to  see  her  suffer,  but  best  that  she  should 
know  the  truth  at  once.  In  a  few  brief  sentences,  care- 
fully worded  to  spare  her  as  much  as  possible,  he  told  of 
Lyttleton's  approaching  marriage. 

She  did  not  cry  out  again,  but  asked,  in  a  tone  of  quiet 
despair,  to  whom. 

It  cost  Kenneth  an  effort  to  speak  Nell's  name,  and 
something  in  his  voice  thrilled  his  listener  with  an  instant 
consciousness  of  what  she  was  to  him. 

She  lifted  her  face  to  his,  the  wet  eyes  full  of  tender 
pity. 

"  You,  too,  Kenneth,  my  poor  dear  Kenneth  ? "  she 
said  in  low,  tremulous  tones,  "  has  he  wronged  you  too  ? 
Then  he  is  cast  out  of  my  heart  forever.  I  cannot  love 
one  so  base,  so  unworthy." 

But  with  the  last  words  her  head  went  down  upon  his 
shoulder  again  with  a  passionate  burst  of  weeping. 

A  storm  of  feeling  swept  over  Kenneth  as  he  held  her 
close,  not  speaking,  for  he  could  find  no  words,  but  softly 
smoothing  her  hair,  gently  pressing  one  of  the  small, 
thin  hands  which  he  had  taken  in  his. 

He  could  not  forgive  Lyttleton  at  that  moment,  he  felt 
that  he  could  crush  him  under  foot  as  he  would  a  viper 
that  had  stung  this  precious  little  sister,  and  poisoned 
two  other  lives.  His  own  must  be  dark  and  dreary  with- 
out sweet  Nell,  and  what  better  could  hers  be,  passed  in 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        267 

the  society  of  such  a  wretch,  nay,  more,  in  the  closest 
union  with  him. 

Alas  !  alas  !  hers  was  the  saddest  fate  of  all,  and  none 
the  less  to  be  pitied  because  she  had  in  some  measure 
brought  it  upon  herself. 

In  some  measure  ?  Ah,  was  he  utterly  blameless, 
Kenneth  Clendenin  ? 

The  question  came  to  him  with  a  sharp  pang  of  self- 
reproach.  He  had  won  her  affection,  his  lips  had  never 
breathed  a  syllable  of  love.  Then  who  was  he  that  he 
should  be  so  fierce  against  this  other  transgressor  ? 

The  tempest  of  emotion  had  spent  itself,  and  Marian 
lay  pale  and  exhausted  in  hfs  arms,  trembling  like  a  leaf. 

Very  gently  he  raised  her,  and  bidding  her  cling  about 
his  neck,  bore  her  in  those  strong  arms  to  the  house, 
Caius  running  on  before  to  announce  their  coming. 

Mrs.  Clendenin  met  them  in  the  porch,  her  face  full  of 
anxiety  and  alarm. 

"  Kenneth  !  what  is  it  ?  " 

"  She  is  wearied  out  now,  mother,  but  will  be  better 
soon.  Let  me  lay  her  in  her  bed." 

She  had  already  fallen  into  the  sleep  of  utter  exhaus- ' 
tion.      He  placed   her  comfortably  on  the  bed,   while 
the   mother  drew  down  the  blinds  and  Caius  stretched 
himself  on  the  floor  by  her  side. 

".Kenneth,  my  dear  boy,  oh,  what  a  comfort  to  have 
you  here  again  ! "  whispered  Mrs.  Clendenin,  as  they 
clasped  each  other  in  a  long,  tender  embrace. 

Leaving  Caius  to  watch  the  slumbers  of  their  dear  one, 
they  withdrew  to  the  sitting-room. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  her  ?  "  There  was  another, 
an  unspoken  question  in  the  mother's  pleading  anxious 
eyes. 


268  THE   THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Kenneth's  answer  to  it  was,  "  Let  your  poor  heart  be  at 
rest,  mother,  it  is  not  that." 

A  cloud  of  care,  of  deep  and  sore  anxiety  lifted 
from  her  brow,  and  she  wept  tears  of  joy  and  thank- 
fulness. 

"  Anything  but  that,"  she  sighed,  "  any  other  burden 
seems  light  in  comparison  with  that.  But,  Kenneth,  the 
child  is  certainly  ill,  have  you  discovered  the  cause  of 
her  malady  ? " 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  and  have  brought  her  a  cure  which, 
though  it  must  be  painful  at  first,  will,  I  doubt  not, 
prove  effectual  in  the  end." 

Then  he  repeated  Marian's  story,  having  won  her  con- 
sent that  he  should  do  so,  and  added  his  own  knowledge 
of  Lyttleton. 

The  mother's  surprise  was  not  less  than  his  had  been, 
and  her  tears  fell  fast  over  the  sorrows  of  her  sweet  and 
gentle  child. 

"  I  take  blame  to  myself  for  leaving  her  alone,"  she 
said,  "  and  yet  it  was  what  seemed  best  at  the  time." 

"  I  would  not  have  you  do  so,  mother,  dear,"  he  said, 
gazing  tenderly  into  the  patient  yet  troubled  face 
whereon  sorrow  and  care  had  left  their  deep  and  lasting 
traces,  "  no  blame  rightfully  belongs  to  you  ;  and  let  me 
say  for  your  consolation,  that  if  I  read  her  aright,  there 
is  one  drop  of  sweetness  in  this  otherwise  bitter  cup, 
she  will  never  love  again." 

She  gave  him  one  earnest  look,  then  dropping  her 
eyes,  seemed  lost  in  thought  for  several  minutes. 

"  Yes,"  she  said  at  length,  "  I  think  you  are  right. 
And  she  has  passed  this  trying  ordeal  safely  ?  " 

"Yes." 

Clasping  her  hands  in  her  lap  and  liftii-g  her  eyes  t(j 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         269 

heaven,  "  I  thank  thee,  oh  my  Father,  for  that,"  she 
murmured  in  tones  so  low  that  the  words  scarcely  reached 
Kenneth's  ear. 

He  stood  looking  down  upon  her  with  loving,  com- 
passionate eyes.  Ah,  if  it  were  but  in  his  power  to 
remove  every  thorn  from  her  path  ! 

That  might  not  be,  but  her  face  had  resumed  its 
wonted  expression  of  sweet  and  calm  submission.  She 
glanced  up  at  him,  her  fine  eyes  full  of  affectionate 
pride. 

"  You  have  told  me  nothing  yet  of  yourself,  Kenneth. 
How  fares  it  with  you,  my  boy  ?  Sit  down  here  by  my 
side  and  open  all  your  heart  to  me  as  you  used  to  do.  I 
see  you  have  something  to  tell,''  she  added,  watching 
the  changes  of  his  countenance  as  he  took  the  offered 
chair,  "  something  of  joy  and  something  of  sorrow." 

"  Yes,  mother,  I  have  learned  that  long  sought  secret, 
and  it  brings  me  both  gladness  and  grief,"  he  answered 
with  emotion. 

"  You  have  found  her  ? "  she  asked  in  almost  breath- 
less, half  credulous  astonishment. 

"  Yes,  mother,  Reumah  Clark,  and — " 

"  Wait  one  moment,"  she  faltered,  pressing  her  hand 
to  her  heart. 

He  knelt  at  her  side  and  threw  an  arm  about  her 
waist.  She  laid  her  head  on  his  shoulder,  heaving  a 
gentle  sigh. 

"  Now,"  she  whispered,  "  tell  me  all.  Oh,  that  terrible, 
terrible  day.  I  can  never  recall  it  without  a  shudder." 

His  story  did  not  go  back  to  the  scenes  of  that  dread- 
ful day  on  which  he  first  saw  the  light.  He  merely  gave  a 
brief  account  of  his  interview  with  Reumah  Clark,  con- 
fining himself  chiefly  to  her  explanation  of  the  mark 


270  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

which  proved  his  identity,  and  her  assertion  that  she  had 
looked  for  and  seen  it  at  the  time  of  his  birth. 

Mrs.  Clendenin  raised  her  head,  showing  a  face 
radiant  with  joy  and  thankfulness. 

"  Oh,  my  dear  boy,  what  glad  news  for  you,  what  a 
burden  removed  !  And  yet— Ah,  I  am  not  the  happy 
mother  of  such  a  son  !  "  and  her  eyes  filled  with 
tears. 

"  No,  that  is  the  bitter  drop  in  the  cup,  sweet  mother, 
for  I  must  still  call  you  so,  unless  you  forbid  it.  And, 
thank  God,  we  are  of  the  same  blood." 

"  Yes,  yes,  my  own  mother's  child  by  birth,  mine  own  by 
adoption,  we  are  very  near  and  dear  to  one  another," 
she  whispered,  clinging  to  him  in  a  close  and  tender 
embrace. 

For  a  moment  there  was  utter  silence  between  them, 
then  she  spoke  musingly,  as  if  half  talking  to  him, 
half  thinking  aloud. 

"  I  have  often  wondered  over  that  mark,  but  could 
find  no  clue  to  it,  for  my  mother  never  mentioned  the 
occurrence  to  me,  and  I  knew  nothing  of  the  mark  upon 
Clark's  arm.  Ah,  had  I  known,  how  much  of  anxiety 
and  mental  suffering  might  have  been  spared  us  both  !  " 

"  Yes,"  he  assented  with  almost  a  groan,  thinking  of  his 
lost  love. 

She  saw  the  anguish  in  his  face  and  with  tender  ques- 
tioning at  length  drew  the  whole  story  from  him. 

"  Do  not  despair,"  she  said  when  he  had  finished,  "  I 
think  the  man  has  told  you  a  falsehood.  I  understand 
woman's  nature  better  than  you  can,  and  such  a  girl  as 
you  have  described  would  never  give  herself  to  such  a 
man.  And  now  the  seal  is  taken  from  your  lips  and  you 
may  declare  your  love  and  sue  for  hers  in  return.  Ah, 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         271 

my  dear  boy,  I  trust  happy  days  are  in  store  for  you 
even  on  this  side  of  Jordan." 

She  looked  into  his  eyes  with  hers  so  full  of  loving 
pride,  tender  sympathy  and  joyful  anticipation,  that 
hope  revived  in  his  desponding  heart. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

"  ONE  thing  more,  mother,  before  Marian  joins  us," 
Kenneth  said,  breaking  a  pause  in  the  conversation  ; 
"  she  surely  need  know  nothing  of  the  discovery  we  have 
made.  I  once  at  her  earnest  request  told  her  of  the 
doubt,  and  she  was  sorely  distressed  by  it  ;  to  use  her 
own  expression,  could  hardly  endure  the  thought  that  I 
might  not  be  her  very  own  brother  !  Shall  we  not  let 
her  remain  in  ignorance  of  that  which  could  bring  her 
nothing  but  sorrow  ?  " 

"  You  are  right,  Kenneth,  we  will  bury  it  in  our  own 
hearts,  so  far  as  she  is  concerned,  along  with  that  other, 
terrible  secret,"  sighed  the  mother  in  low,  tremulous 
tones. 

They  were  silent  again  for  a  little,  there  was  so  much 
food  for  perplexing  thought  in  the  circumstances  that 
surrounded  them ;  then,  "  Who  is  this  Lyttleton  ? " 
she  asked.  "  Coming  first  here,  taking  pains  to  ingra- 
tiate himself  with  Marian,  asking  many  questions  about 
you,  afterward  appearing  in  Chillicothe,  having  in  the 
meantime  visited  Virginia,  very  possibly  Tennessee  also; 
does  it  not  look  as  if  he  had  a  design  in  it  all,  a  pur- 
pose to  carry  out  ?  " 

"  It  does  indeed  !  "  cried  Kenneth  in  surprise  and 
perplexity  ;  "  and  if  so,  doubtless  he  will  cross  my  path 
again  ;  perhaps  Marian's  also  ;  but  woe  to  him  if  he 
attempts  further  harm  to  that  dear  child  !  "  he  added 
with  stern  and  angry  determination. 


THE  THORN  IX  THE  NEST.         273 

"  O  Kenneth,  beware  !  "  exclaimed  the  mother  half 
frightened  at  such  vehemence  in  one  usually  so  self-con- 
trolled, "  if  he  have  evil  designs  toward  our  darling,  we 
must  baffle  them  by  keeping  her  out  of  his  way." 

"We  must  indeed,"  he  said  in  quieter  though  not  less 
resolute  tones  ;  "  and  while  I  am  here  she  shall  be  my 
special  care." 

A  few  days  later  light  was  thrown  on  this  dark  ques- 
tion by  a  letter  forwarded  by  Dale  from  Chillicothe, 
enclosed  in  one  from  himself  stating  that  he  now  had 
Reumah  Clark's  evidence  in  proper  shape. 

The  enclosure  was  from  England,  and  brought  news 
of  the  death  of  a  brother  of  Kenneth's  own  father,  the 
last  of  that  family. 

He  had  left  a  very  considerable  property,  to  which 
Kenneth  was  the  rightful  heir,  both  by  law  and  the  pro- 
visions of  his  uncle's  will,  in  case  he  could  prove  his 
identity  ;  failing  that,  Lyttleton,  though  only  very  dis- 
tantly related,  would  inherit  for  lack  of  a  nearer  heir. 
He  had  therefore  a  strong  motive  for  wishing  to  destroy 
whatever  proof  of  Kenneth's  real  parentage  might  exist, 
unless  he  could  make  sure  that  such  proof  would  be  in 
favor  of  the  supposition  that  Kenneth  was  the  child  of 
his  reputed  parent,  the  younger  of  the  two  Clendenins 
of  the  Tennessee  tragedy. 

Hence  his  efforts  to  bribe  Reumah  Clark  to  silence. 
He  had  visited  the  neighborhood  of  the  tragedy  and 
learned  just  enough  to  assure  him  that  if  any  living  per- 
son could  supply  the  missing  link  in  the  evidence,  it  was 
she  and  she  alone. 

If  he  could  prevent  her  doing  so,  Kenneth's  claims 
must  inevitably  fall  to  the  ground,  and  by  its  failure  his 
own  succession  be  secured. 


274  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

In  his  interview  with  the  woman  he  was  made  aware 
of  the  fact  that  one  of  the  children  bore  a  distinguishing- 
mark,  but  it  was  impossible  to  discover  whether  Kenneth 
were  that  one  or  the  other. 

In  these  letters,  written  by  the  attorney  of  the 
deceased  gentleman,  Kenneth  was  informed  of  the 
antagonism  of  his  own  and  Lyttleton's  interests,  warned 
that  the  latter  might  be  supposed  to  entertain  designs 
against  him,  and  informed  that  he  had  gone  to  America. 

These  letters  and  the  answers  to  them  were  shown  to 
Mrs.  Clendenin  and  quietly  discussed  with  her  when 
Marian  was  not  present. 

It  seemed,  in  the  light  of  these  revelations,  almost  a 
foregone  conclusion  that  Lyttleton  was  the  man  who  had 
so  nearly  succeeded  in  preventing  Kenneth  from  gaining 
the  all-important  evidence  of  the  white  squaw  of  the 
Indian  brave  ;  and  while  the  discovery  of  the  English- 
man's perfidious  character  gave  Clendenin  increased 
hope  that  his  boast  of  having  won  Miss  Lamar  was  false, 
it  also  augmented  his  anxiety  for  her  in  case  it  should 
prove  true. 

The  impulse  to  return  at  once  to  Chillicothe  and  seek 
an  interview  with  her  was  often  strong  upon  him.  Yet 
he  put  it  resolutely  aside  for  Marian's  sake ;  so  all- 
important  to  her  seemed  his  watchful  care  just  at  this 
crisis. 

And  most  wisely,  tenderly,  lovingly  was  the  duty  per- 
formed. They  were  seldom  apart  in  her  waking  hours, 
and  he  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost  to  comfort  and 
soothe,  to  amuse,  to  entertain,  and  by  interesting  her  in 
other  matters,  to  keep  her  thoughts  from  dwelling  upon 
her  grief  and  disappointment. 

It  was  no  longer  unrequited    love,   for  she  had,  as 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         275 

she  said,  cast  Lyttleton  out  of  her  heart  the  moment  she 
had  discovered  his  utter  unworthiness  ;  but  the  heart 
was  sore,  nevertheless,  and  the  niche  once  filled  by  the 
now  broken  idol,  an  aching  void. 

Her  newly  awakened  woman's  pride,  too,  was  deeply 
wounded,  and  yet  it  came  to  her  aid,  helping  her  to  bear 
up  with  resolution  against  the  crushing  sense  of  loss  and 
humiliation  ;  deceived  and  wronged  she  had  been,  but 
none  should  know  how  deeply  ;  none,  save  the  two  to 
whom  she  was  so  dear,  suspect  that  any  such  calamity 
had  befallen  her. 

Kenneth  kept  his  patient  much  in  the  open  air.  The 
days  were  long,  warm  and  bright,  and  the  two,  or  some- 
times it  was  the  three,  when  household  cares  could  be 
laid  aside  by  the  mother,  taking  an  early  start,  and 
carrying  lunch,  books  and  work  with  them,  would  seek 
out  one  or  another  secluded  spot,  some  little  glen 
among  the  hills,  or  some  level  place  along  their  sides, 
or  on  their  summits,  that  gave  them  a  fine  view  of  the 
lower  country,  and  where  tree  or  vine  or  towering  rock 
shielded  them  pleasantly  from  the  too  fervid  rays  of  the 
sun,  and  there  while  away  the  hours,  till  the  lengthening 
shadows  warned  them  it  was  time  to  return. 

From  her  earliest  recollection  Marian  had  loved  Ken- 
neth with  well-nigh  passionate  devotion  ;  he  was  to  her 
the  impersonation  of  all  that  is  good  and  noble. 

Her  father  had  been  a  perplexity  and  at  times  almost 
a  terror  to  her  ;  silent,  gloomy,  his  presence  ever  like  a 
dark  shadow  in  the  house,  ever  imposing  a  vague 
restraint  upon  all  manifestation  of  mirth  and  gladness. 
Her  mother  had  heart  and  mind  so  intent  upon  him, 
that,  while  loving  her  child  very  dearly,  she  had  little  time 
or  opportunity  to  study  her  disposition  or  win  her  confi- 


276  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

dence.  She  was  one  indeed  respected,  honored,  looked  up 
to  as  counsellor  and  guide,  an  authority  never  to  be 
questioned,  but  it  was  Kenneth,  her  one  brother,  who 
was  her  closest  intimate  and  confident  of  all  her  childish 
joys,  sorrows  and  perplexities. 

In  his  early  childhood  the  father  had  been  a  different 
man,  bright,  cheery,  pleasant  tempered  and  genial ; 
the  mother  able  to  do  all  a  mother's  part  by  him. 

He  understood  the  change  and  its  cause  ;  understood 
also  Marian's  needs,  and  earnestly  strove  to  supply  to 
her  whatever  was  lacking  by  reason  of  the  strange  and 
sad  vicissitude  that  had  come  upon  the  family. 

Angus,  born  in  the  same  hour  with  Kenneth,  was  the 
eldest  child,  Marian  the  youngest  and  the  last  of  the  four 
or  five  who  filled  the  gap  between,  and  who  had  passed 
away  from  earth  while  she  was  still  a  mere  babe. 

Thus  everything  conspired  to  make  Kenneth  all  in  all 
to  her  in  the  early  days  before  he  left  home  to  pursue 
his  medical  studies. 

Since  that  he  had  been  in  all  his  absences  her  one 
correspondent ;  and  except  in  the  one  matter  of  her 
acquaintance  with  Lyttleton,  she  had  been  wont  to  pour 
out  to  him,  in  that  way,  her  thoughts  and  feelings  with- 
out reserve. 

During  the  last  year  she  had  written  but  seldom,  and 
the  alteration  in  the  tone  of  her  letters,  the  few  that  he 
had  received  being  short  and  constrained,  had  greatly 
puzzled  and  troubled  him.  Now  he  comprehended  the 
cause. 

But  the  old  unrestraint  and  confidence  had  returned, 
and  the  poor  girl  found  the  greatest  consolation  and 
support  in  Kenneth's  presence,  Kenneth's  sympathy  and 
love.  "  Her  dear,  dear  brother,"  she  called  him,  and 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        277 

he  did  not  intend  she  should  ever  learn  that  he  was 
not. 

Thus  cheered  and  comforted,  she  soon  began  to 
regain  strength,  flesh  and  color  ;  spirits  too,  till  at  times 
her  silvery  laugh  rang  out  quite  merrily. 

One  morning,  several  weeks  after  Kenneth's  return,  he 
and  Marian  were  out  among  the  hills  at  no  great 
distance  from  home,  where  they  had  left  Mrs.  Clendenin 
busied  with  some  domestic  duty. 

Marian  ambled  along  on  her  pony,  Kenneth  walking 
by  its  side,  Caius  leaping  and  bounding,  now  before,  and 
now  behind,  now  in  silence  and  anon  waking  the  echoes 
with  joyous  bark. 

The  sagacious  creature  evidently  rejoiced  over  the 
improvement  visible  in  his  young  mistress. 

"  Here  is  Prospect  Hill,"  remarked  Kenneth ; 
"  do  you  feel  equal  to  climbing  it  ?  The  slope  is  very 
gentle  on  this  side,  and  I  think  your  pony  will  carry  you 
full  two-thirds  of  the  way  up.  For  the  rest  you  shall 
have  the  support  of  my  arm." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  she  answered  almost  eagerly  ;  "  we  have 
not  been  there  together  for  years,  and  I  always  enjoy 
the  view  so  much." 

They  made  the  ascent  slowly,  stopping  now  and  again 
to  take  in  the  view  from  different  points. 

When  the  way  grew  too  steep  for  the  pony  Kenneth 
tethered  him  to  a  tree,  and  lifting  Marian  from  the 
saddle,  half  carried  her  to  the  top  of  the  hill. 

The  prospect  here  was  very  fine  ;  looking  off  from  a 
precipice  two  hundred  feet  high,  they  could  take  in  the 
whole  extent  of  their  own  little  valley  and  many  miles  of 
country  lying  beyond  it,  beautifully  diversified  with  hill 
and  dale,  meandering  streams,  forest  and  cultivated 


278  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

fields,  farm-houses  and  villages  stretching  away  far  as 
the  eye  could  reach,  toward  the  west  and  north  ;  while 
on  the  south  and  east  the  lofty  Alleghenies  shut  in  the 
view,  seemingly  at  no  great  distance,  though  in  reality 
miles  away. 

With  a  folded  shawl  laid  over  the  roots  of  a  tree 
Kenneth  made  a  comfortable  seat  for  Marian  within  two 
or  three  yards  of  the  edge  of  the  cliff  ;  then  threw  him- 
self down  beside  her,  and  they  fell  into  cheerful  chat, 
calling  each  other's  attention  to  the  varied  beauties  of 
the  landscape  spread  out  before  them,  and  talking  of 
other  days  when  they  had  gazed  upon  it  together. 

Neither  of  them  had  cast  a  look  behind  as  they  came 
up  the  hill,  so  they  had  not  seen  a  man  who  stepped  out 
of  the  woods  into  the  road  below  just  as  they  began  the 
ascent,  and  stood  for  a  moment  gazing  after  them,  then 
stealthily  followed,  not  by  the  path  they  were  pursuing, 
but  creeping  along  a  little  to  one  side,  under  cover  of  the 
bushes  and  trees  that  thickly  clothed  that  part  of  the  hill. 

Reaching  the  top,  still  unnoticed,  for  their  faces  were 
turned  from  him,  he  concealed  himself  behind  a  clump 
of  evergreens  whence  he  could  take  cognizance  of  both 
their  movements  and  their  talk,  without  danger  of 
discovery. 

It  was  Lyttleton,  who  had  followed  Kenneth  into  this 
neighborhood  and  was  prowling  about  with  no  very 
settled  purpose,  but  with  a  vague  idea  of  finding  some 
means  of  removing  him  from  his  path.  It  might  be 
that  with  the  assistance  of  his  valet  alone  he  could,  if 
circumstances  should  favor  the  design,  carry  out  even 
yet  the  plan  which  had  so  signally  failed  under  the 
auspices  of  Bill  Shark  and  Brannon. 

He  had  spent  many  an  hour  in  watching  the  brother 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        279 

and  sister  and  listening  to  their  mutual  confidences, 
when  they  little  dreamed  of  his  vicinity. 

Thus  he  had  learned  of  Marian's  changed  feelings 
toward  himself  and  how  he  had  sunk  in  her  estimation. 

His  vanity  was  sorely  wounded,  and  as  blessings 
brighten  as  they  take  their  flight,  he  began  to  grow  very 
desirous  to  win  back  her  esteem  and  affection. 

Suffering  had  spiritualized  her  beauty,  and  watching 
the  play  of  her  features  and  her  changing  color  as  she 
conversed  so  unreservedly  with  Kenneth,  he  sometimes 
pronounced  it  superior  to  that  of  Miss  Lamar. 

Yes,  he  began,  now  that  it  was  beyond  his  reach,  to 
covet  the  jewel  he  had  won,  then  carelessly  and  heart- 
lessly thrown  aside. 

She  had  never  looked  lovelier  than  on  this  particular 
morning,  and  the  impulse  came  strongly  upon  him  to  go 
to  her  and  make  an  effort  to  recover  lost  ground.  Why 
should  he  not  present  himself  as  having  just  come,  after 
unavoidable  detention,  to  fulfill  his  promise  of  return, 
he  queried  with  himself,  forgetting  for  the  moment  that 
he  had  told  Kenneth  he  was  engaged  to  Miss  Lamar ; 
thus  proving  that  he  was  false  to  Marian  ;  and  only  re- 
membering that  Kenneth  could  know  nothing  of  the  plots 
against  his  liberty  and  his  inheritance  to  his  uncle's  estate. 

He  would  have  preferred  to  see  Marian  alone,  his 
inordinate  self-esteem  assuring  him  that  in  that  case  he 
would  have  little  difficulty  in  re-establishing  himself  in 
her  good  graces  ;  but  Clendenin  was  always  with  her. 
Therefore  no  time  could  be  better  than  the  present  ; 
and  just  then,  as  if  to  favor  his  design,  Kenneth  rose 
and  left  her  ;  going  to  the  very  verge  of  the  precipice, 
where  he  stood  for  several  minutes  gazing  down  into 
the  little  valley  at  its  foot. 


280  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Lyttleton  approached  her  with  quick  but  noiseless 
tread,  and  happening  to  raise  her  eyes  they  encountered 
his  as  he  stood  close  at  her  side  intently  scanning  her 
features. 

She  uttered  a  little  cry  of  mingled  surprise  and  alarm, 
at  which  Kenneth  turned  instantly  and  flew  to  the  rescue. 

"  Don't  be  alarmed,  sweet  one,"  Lyttleton  said  ;  but 
the  words  had  scarcely  left  his  lips  when  he  found  him- 
self confronted  by  Kenneth,  who  with  form  erect  and 
flashing  eyes,  sternly  demanded  of  him,  "  How  dare  you, 
sir,  venture  to  address  my  sister  after  the  shameful  man- 
ner in  which  you  have  acted  toward  her  ?  " 

"  She  is  your  sister,  is  she,  sir  ?  That  is  good  news  for 
me,"  Lyttleton  said,  with  a  malicious  gleam  in  his  eyes. 
"  I  am  most  happy  to  hear  it." 

"  I  am  her  natural  protector  and  intend  to  prove  my- 
self such  in  good  earnest,"  returned  Kenneth.  "  As 
for  you,  sir,  I  have  lately  become  aware  of,  not  only 
your  perfidious  conduct  toward  this  poor  innocent 
child,  but  also  who  you  are  and  your  probable  errand  to 
this  country." 

Lyttleton  grew  pale  with  anger  and  fear.  He  did  not 
think  at  the  moment  of  Clendenin  having  received  news 
from  England,  but  supposed  Shark,  Brannon  or  Hans 
had  betrayed  him  ;  or  perhaps  Reumah  Clark  ;  though 
she  could  have  told  nothing  save  that  he  had  bribed  her 
to  silence. 

A  moment  he  stood  shame-faced  and  irresolute  ,  then 
anger  getting  the  better  of  fear,  he  turned  furiously  upon 
his  antagonist,  heaping  the  most  virulent  abuse  upon  him, 
calling  him  coward,  villain,  supplanter,  accusing  him  of 
robbing  him  of  fortune  and  lady-love,  and  vowing  sleep- 
less revenge. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         281 

He  drew  nearer  and  nearer  to  Kenneth,  as  he  spoke, 
using  violent  and  threatening  gesticulations  ;  and  the 
latter  confronting  him  with  calm,  quiet,  yet  sternly 
determined  face,  kept  constantly  stepping  back  to  avoid 
a  collision,  till  again  he  stood  on  the  very  verge  of  the 
precipice ;  but  with  his  back  to  it,  and  in  the  forgetfulness 
caused  by  excitement,  utterly  unconscious  of  his  danger. 

Whether  Lyttleton  was  aware  of  it  is  uncertain,  but  he 
struck  him  a  blow  that  sent  him  toppling  over,  and  with 
a  wild  cry,  echoed  by  Marian,  the  terrified  witness  of  the 
whole  scene,  he  disappeared  from  sight. 

Lyttleton  shrieked,  fell  on  his  knees  and  crawling, 
shuddering  and  trembling,  to  the  edge  looked  over. 

There  down  at  the  bottom  of  the  steep  descent  of  two 
hundred  feet,  lay  something,  indistinctly  seen  because 
of  the  distance  and  intervening  trees,  that  looked  like  a 
confused  and  lifeless  heap. 

"  Oh  my  God,  have  mercy  !  I  have  killed  him  !  "  he 
cried,  springing  to  his  feet.  "  I've  killed  him  !  I've 
killed  him  !  "  he  repeated  clenching  his  hands  and  groan- 
ing aloud  in  an  agony  of  terror  and  remorse. .  "  I've 
killed  him,  but  God  knows  I  didn't  intend  it  !  " 

He  glanced  at  Marian. 

She  lay  in  a  little  white  heap  apparently  as  dead  as 
the  one  at  the  foot  of  the  precipice. 

Then  with  flying  footsteps  he  fled  down  the  hill,  by 
the  way  he  had  come,  nor  paused,  nor  looked  back  till 
he  reached  the  spot,  some  half  mile  distant,  where  he  had 
left  Hans  and  the  horses. 

The  valet,  spite  of  all  his  natural  stolid  indifference 
under  ordinary  circumstances,  was  startled  into  an  excla- 
mation of  wonder  and  dismay  at  sight  of  his  master's 
pallid,  terror-stricken  countenance. 


282  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

11  Mine  Gott !  mynheer,  vat  ish  happen  you,  to  see 
von  pig  ghost  ?  " 

Lyttleton  shivered  with  the  thought  that  he  had  evoked 
a  ghost  that  would  haunt  him  all  his  days. 

"  Nonsense,"  he  said  in  a  hoarse  whisper  and  glancing 
fearfully  behind  him  ;  "  there's  been  an  accident ;  Clen- 
denin  has  fallen  down  a  precipice  and  is  probably  killed, 
and  I  may  be  suspected  of  having  had  something  to 
do  with  it.  I  must  mount  and  away  in  haste.  I  shall 
take  yonder  road  and  travel  east.  Do  you  go  and  settle 
our  bill  for  board,  and  follow  me  with  the  luggage. 

"  All  haste,  we  must  be  miles  away  from  here  before 
the  thing  is  discovered  !  Fortunately  I  had  expressed 
my  intention  of  leaving  to-day  or  to-morrow,  so  that  our 
sudden  departure  need  excite  no  suspicion. 

"  Not  a  word  of  the  accident  to  any  one,  remember  ; 
be  discreet  and  prompt,  and  you  shall  not  fail  of  your 
reward." 

With  the  last  words  he  vaulted  into  the  saddle,  put 
spurs  to  his  horse  and  galloped  away  at  the  top  of  his 
speed. 

What  cared  he  for  the  helpless  girl  whom  he  had  left 
lying  insensible  and  alone  upon  the  hill  top  ?  Ah,  he 
cursed  her  between  his  clenched  teeth,  and  wished  she 
might  never  wake  again  to  tell  of  his  foul  deed  ;  she,  its 
only  human  witness. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

No,  Marian  was  not  quite  alone  ;  her  four-footed  friend 
and  protector  would  not  forsake  her,  though  for  a  time 
he  seemed  divided  between  the  duty  of  watching  over  her 
and  succoring  Kenneth.  When  the  latter  fell,  Caius 
sprang  forward  with  a  loud  bark,  as  with  the  double  pur- 
pose to  save  him  and  to  avenge  him  upon  his  cowardly 
assailant  ;  but  Marian's  cry  recalled  him  instantly  to  her 
side. 

He  stood  over  her,  gazing  into  her  white,  rigid  face 
with  a  low  whine,  then  he  gently  tried  to  rouse  her, 
pulling  at  her  dress,  then  licking  her  hands,  and  then  her 
face. 

At  last  she  opened  her  eyes,  sat  up  and  looked  about 
her. 

Where  was  she  ?  What  had  happened  ?  Where  was 
Kenneth  ?  It  all  came  back  to  her,  and  with  an  anguished 
cry  she  staggered  to  her  feet,  drew  tremblingly,  shudder- 
ingly  near  to  the  edge  of  the  cliff  and  looked  down. 

Nothing  to  be  seen  but  rocks  and  trees  and  the  little 
stream  quietly  wending  its  way  through  the  valley  below. 

"  Kenneth  !  "  she  shrieked  wildly,  "  Kenneth  !  Ken- 
neth !  " 

Bat  there  was  no  answer,  and  now  her  eye  caught  that 
little  confused  heap.  Was  it  he  ?  She  seemed  to  recog- 
nize the  clothing  he  had  worn.  Oh,  he  was  dead,  how 
could  it  be  otherwise  after  that  fearful  fall  ! 

She  swooned  again  and  Caius  dragged  her  away  from 


284  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

the  perilous  spot  and  renewed  his  efforts  to  revive 
her. 

How  long  it  was  before  he  succeeded  she  could  never 
tell,  or  fiow,  when  at  last  consciousness  returned,  she 
made  her  way  to  her  pony,  untethered  him  and  got  upon 
his  back. 

She  left  him  to  his  own  guidance,  and  he  took  the  right 
road  for  home. 

She  seemed  to  see  nothing  but  Kenneth  lying  cold  and 
dead  at  the  foot  of  the  precipice,  to  know  nothing  but 
that  he  was  gone  from  her  forever,  and  that  Lyttleton, 
the  man  she  had  once  loved,  was  his  murderer. 

The  pony  stopped  at  the  gate  ;  Marian  lifted  her  head. 

What,  who  was  that  coming  slowly  and  with  limping, 
halting  gait  to  meet  her  from  the  other  direction  ? 

She  looked  again,  and  a  cry  of  joy,  so  intense  that  it 
was  near  akin  to  pain,  burst  from  her  pallid  lips. 

Torn,  bruised,  scratched,  disheveled,  clothing  hanging 
in  tatters,  the  difficult,  awkward,  evidently  painful  and 
toilsome  movement,  as  different  as  possible  from  his 
accustomed  free,  manly,  energetic  carriage,  it  was  yet, 
without  doubt,  Kenneth  himself. 

Caius  bounded  toward  him  with  a  joyous  bark  of 
recognition,  and  Marian  sprang  to  the  ground  and 
rushed  with  outstretched  arms  to  meet  him,  crying,  "  O, 
Kenneth,  Kenneth,  is  it,  can  it  be  you  ?  Oh,  I  thought 
—I  thought—" 

The  rest  was  lost  in  a  burst  of  weeping,  as  she  clasped 
him  close,  then,  holding  him  off,  gazed  shudderingly  into 
his  face,  so  bruised,  wan  and  bloody  that  she  might  well 
have  doubted  if  it  were  indeed  he. 

"  Yes,"  he  gasped,  staggering  and  catching  at  the  fence 
for  support,  "  I  have  had  a  wonderful-  deliverance.  And 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         285 

you,  darling  ?  Oh,  the  Lord  be  praised  that  you  are  here 
safe  and  sound  !  " 

Their  approach  had  been  seen  from  the  house,  and 
mother  and  servants  now  came  running  to  ask  what  had 
befallen,  every  face  full  of  agitation  and  alarm  at  sight 
of  Kenneth's  condition. 

But  seeing  that  he  was  half-fainting,  the  mother  stopped 
all  questioning  till  he  could  be  got  into  the  house,  laid 
upon  a  bed  and  his  wounds  dressed. 

There  were  no  bones  broken,  he  presently  assured  her 
of  that,  but  the  jar  to  the  whole  system,  the  bruises  and 
cuts,  would  confine  him  to  his  couch  for  some  days. 

Great  was  her  astonishment  when  told  whence  he  had 
fallen. 

"  How  is  it  possible  you  can  have  escaped  alive  ?  "  she 
exclaimed,  her  usually  calm  face  full  of  emotion  ;  "  it 
seems  nothing  short  of  a  miracle  !  " 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  with  deep  gravity,  and  a  far  away  look 
in  his  eyes  ;  "  my  thought,  as  I  felt  myself  falling,  was 
that  I  was  going  to  certain,  instant  death  ;  but  there  was 
a  joyful  consciousness  that  all  would  be  well." 

"  But  what  saved  you  ?  "  she  asked,  in  almost  breath- 
less excitement. 

"  The  trees  and  the  sand,  joined  to  my  light  weight, 
were  my  heavenly  Father's  instruments  to  that  end,"  he 
answered  with  his  grave,  tender  smile.  "  The  bank  of 
the  stream  just  there  is  a  deep  bed  of  soft  sand  ;  that  is 
overhung  by  waterwillows  with  very  thick,  very  pliant 
branches  ;  and  towering  above  them,  from  fifty  to  seventy 
feet  high,  are  oaks  and  other  varieties  of  trees.  I  must 
have  fallen  first  into  those,  and  without  striking  any 
large  branch,  from  them  into  the  willows,  and  from  them 
on  to  the  bed  of  sand. 


2S6  THE   THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  I  was  there  when  I  came  to  myself  ;  how  long  I  had 
lain  there  insensible  I  cannot  tell,  but  it  must  have  been 
a  good  while.  I  had  a  good  deal  of  difficulty  in  dragging 
myself  home  ;  could  not  get  to  Marian  by  any  shorter 
route,  and  thought  to  send  Zeb  for  her. 

"  Poor  child  1  I  was  very  anxious  about  you,"  he  added, 
with  an  affectionate  glance  at  her,  "  for  I  did  not  know 
but  the  Englishman  might  have  carried  you  off." 

"  He's  bad  enough,  no  doubt,  if  he  had  wanted  me,"  she 
cried  indignantly  ;  "  but  it  seems  he  did  not,  fortunately." 

She  alone,  of  the  three,  showed  any  feeling  of  bitter- 
ness toward  Lyttleton ;  with  the  others  resentment  was 
swallowed  up  in  thankfulness. 

They  made  no  effort  for  the  apprehension  of  the 
criminal,  and  indeed  let  it  be  supposed  by  their  friends 
and  acquaintances,  and  even  their  own  servants,  that 
Kenneth's  fall  was  accidental. 

They  heard  casually,  in  a  day  or  two,  that  Lyttleton 
had  been  a  boarder  for  several  weeks  past  at  a  solitary 
farm-house  some  miles  distant,  but  had  left  on  the  day  of 
Dr.  Clendenin's  accident,  travelling  in  an  easterly  direc- 
tion. 

The  sudden  turn  affairs  had  taken  proved  a  decided 
benefit  to  Marian.  Her  thoughts  were  turned  from  her- 
self and  her  sorrows  to  her  suffering  brother.  She  was 
his  nurse  ;  quite  as  devoted  and  affectionate  as  he 
had  been  to  her,  and,  in  her  detestation  of  Lyttleton's 
crime,  she  lost  the  last  vestige  of  regard  for  him,  of  regret 
of  his  desertion. 

She  could  never  again  be  quite  the  careless  child  she 
was  of  yore,  but  grief  and  disappointment  had  lost  their 
keen  edge,  and  she  would  one  day  emulate  the  calm, 
placid  resignation  of  her  mother. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  287 

The  change  that  came  over  her  greatly  lightened  the 
hearts  of  the  two  who  loved  her  so  dearly. 

For  Kenneth,  too,  clouds  and  darkness  were  breaking 
away,  and  the  star  of  hope  shone  brightly. 

He  at  first  thought  Lyttleton's  accusation  against  him, 
that  he  had  robbed  him  of  his  lady-love,  referred  to 
Marian  ;  but  on  reflection  he  felt  convinced  that  it  was 
Miss  Lamar  the  man  meant ;  the  admission  being 
unguardedly  made  while  half  maddened  by  anger  and 
resentment. 

It  seemed  very  unlikely  that  he  would  have  left  Chil- 
licothe  just  then,  so  suddenly  and  for  such  a  length  of 
time,  and  without  bidding  adieu  to  Nell,  if  they  were 
really  engaged. 

Beside,  Dale  in  his  last  letter  had  expressed  in  strong 
terms  his  conviction  that  Lyttleton's  boast  was  utterly 
false. 

As  Kenneth  thought  on  these  things  and  remem- 
bered that  he  was  now  free  to  win  the  long  coveted 
prize,  if  he  could  ;  as  he  talked  it  all  over  with  her  whom 
he  still  called  mother,  his  impatience  to  get  back  to 
Chillicothe  grew  apace. 

A  visit  to  England  would  be  necessary  for  the  settle- 
ment of  his  affairs  there,  but  the  business  which  called 
him  to  Chillicothe  was  of  far  more  importance  in  his 
esteem,  and  must  be  attended  to  first. 

He  took  Marian  into  his  confidence  as  far  as  might  be 
without  causing  her  sorrow  and  distress,  and  with  the 
promise  of  a  visit  to  Glen  Forest  both  on  his  way  to  the 
sea-board  when  about  to  set  sail  for  England,  and  on  his 
return,  reconciled  her  to  his  departure  for  Ohio  as  soon 
as  he  was  sufficiently  recovered  from  his  fall  to  be  able 
to  travel. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

EVENING  was  closing  in  upon  the  Scioto  valley  after 
a  day  of  incessant  rain  often  accompanied  by  sharp  flashes 
of  lightning  and  heavy  peals  of  thunder  ;  the  streets 
were  flooded,  the  trees,  shrubbery,  all  things  not  under 
shelter,  were  dripping  with  moisture;  and  still  the  rain  fell 
in  torrents  and  at  intervals  the  thunder  crashed  over- 
head, waking  the  echoes  of  the  hills  and  frightening 
the  timid  and  nervous  with  its  prolonged  and  angry 
roar. 

It  was  just  as  it  had  grown  too  dark  for  those  within 
doors  to  distinguish  passers  by,  who,  indeed  were  very 
fev;  and  far  between,  and  during  one  of  the  heaviest 
showers,  and  the  most  terrific  discharge  of  thunder  and 
lightning,  that  Dr.  Clendenin  and  his  attendant,  Zeb, 
came  dashing  into  the  town  and  hastily  alighted  at  the 
door  of  the  doctor's  office. 

Hearing,  between  the  thunder  peals,  the  sound  of 
horses'  hoofs,  and  Clendenin's  voice  giving  directions 
to  Zeb,  Dale  rushed  to  the  door  to  greet  his  friend  ;  in 
his  great  delight  more  than  half  inclined  to  embrace  him 
after  the  fashion  of  womankind. 

"  Hello,  doc !  are  you  actually  here  in  propria  per- 
sona ?  Well  I  must  say  this  is  a  most  agreeable  end- 
ing of  an  intensely  disagreeable  day.  I  am  glad  to  see 
you  ;  think  I  was  never  gladder  in  my  life  !  "  he  went 
on,  shaking  Kenneth's  hand  again  and  again  ;  "  but  I 
wonder  how  you  had  the  courage  to  push  on  in  spite  of 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        289 

such  a  storm.  Must  have  had  trouble  in  crossing  some 
of  the  streams,  hadn't  you  ? " 

"  Yes,  we  had  to  swim  our  horses  several  times,"  Ken- 
neth answered,  beginning  to  divest  himself  of  his  wet 
outer  garments. 

"  I'd  have  taken  refuge  in  some  hospitable  farm-house 
till  the  storm  was  over,"  said  Dale,  helping  him  off  with 
his  overcoat. 

"  We  stopped  and  had  supper  at  Shirley's,  and  I  was 
strongly  urged  to  stay  till  morning ;  but  really  felt  it 
impossible  to  sleep  within  five  miles  of  Chillicothe," 
Clendenin  said  with  a  gayety  of  look  and  tone  that  struck 
Dale  as  something  new  in  him. 

"  Hello  !  old  fellow,  you  seem  in  rare  good  spirits," 
he  remarked  in  a  tone  of  mingled  surprise  and  pleasure. 

"  I  believe  I  am ;  and  yet  a  little  anxious  too,"  Ken- 
neth answered,  his  face  growing  grave.  "  How  are  all 
our  friends  here?" 

"  All  flourishing  at  the  major's,"  laughed  Dale,  with 
a  quizzical  look.  "  Ah  ha  !  I  believe  I  have  an  inkling 
of  the  reason  why  you  couldn't  stop  short  of  Chillicothe. 
But  you'll  not  think  of  making  friendly  calls  in  such 
weather.  They'd  think  you  crazy,  man." 

Clendenin's  only  reply  was  a  quiet  smile. 

Truly  he  meant  to  be  knocking  at  the  major's  door 
within  the  next  half  hour.  What,  live  in  suspense  till 
another  day,  while  within  three  minutes  walk  of  her  who 
held  his  fate  in  her  hands  ?  Impossible  !  'twould  take 
a  severer  tempest  than  the  one  now  raging  to  keep  him 
from  her  side. 

Dale,  watching  him  with  curious  scrutiny,  read  all  this 
in  his  speaking  countenance,  yet  was  morally  certain  he 
would  not  enter  the  major's  doors  that  night — duty 


290  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

would  erect  a  more  impassable  barrier  than  the  fiercest 
war  of  the  elements. 

"  Doc,"  he  said  with  rueful  look,  as  he  perceived  that 
his  friend  was  nearly  ready  to  sally  forth  upon  his  eagerly 
desired  errand,  "  I  hate  most  confoundedly  to  have  you 
disappointed,  but  the  truth  is — " 

"  What !  Godfrey,  you  surely  said  they  were  all  well  ? 
Has — has  anything — " 

"  No,  no,  you  needn't  turn  pale,  or  be  in  the  least 
alarmed.  It's  only  that  you're  called  another  way. 
Fact  is  Flora  Barbour's  lying  at  death's  door ;  Buell's 
given  her  up,  and  Barbour's  been  round  here  several 
times  to-day,  knowing  that  I'd  got  a  letter  and  you 
were  expected,  and  made  me  promise  over  and  over 
again  to  get  you  there  as  soon  as  possible  in  case  you 
came.  You  see  they  have  the  greatest  confidence  in 
your  skill,  and  can't  give  up  the  hope  that  you  can  save 
her  yet." 

Without  a  word,  but  scarcely  able  to  suppress  a  heavy 
sigh,  Kenneth  at  once  began  preparations  to  obey  the 
unexpected  call. 

"  I  declare  it's  a  shame  !  "  cried  Dale.  "  I  wouldn't  be 
a  doctor,  to  come  and  go  at  everybody's  beck  and  call, 
for  a  mint  of  money." 

"  It's  a  noble  profession,  Godfrey,  spite  of  some  serious 
drawbacks,"  returned  Clendenin,  constrained  to  smile  at 
his  friend's  vehemence,  albeit  his  disappointment  was 
really  very  great. 

Protecting  himself  as  well  as  might  be  from  the  deluge 
of  rain  that  as  yet  knew  no  abatement,  he  hurried  on  his 
way. 

The  Barbours  had,  like  most  of  their  neighbors, 
exchanged  their  log  cabin  for  a  comfortable  two  story 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  291 

dwelling,  and  from  an  upper  window  the  light  of  a  candle 
gleamed  out  upon  the  darkness  of  the  street. 

Kenneth  glanced  up  at  it  with  the  thought  that  there 
the  sick  girl  was  lying. 

Mr.  Barbour  met  him  at  the  door. 

"  Thank  God  you  have  come  ;  though  I'm  afraid  it's 
too  late,"  he  said  in  a  hoarse  whisper,  wringing  Kenneth's 
hand. 

"  Don't  despair,  while  there's  life,  there's  hope,"  Ken- 
neth answered  feelingly.  "  Shall  I  go  to  her  at  once  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  maybe  you'd  like  to  see  Buell  first.  He's 
in  here,"  opening  an  inner  door. 

Dr.  Buell,  who  was  seated  at  a  table  measuring  out 
medicines,  rose  and  came  forward  to  meet  Dr.  Clen- 
denin. 

The  two  shook  hands  cordially,  Buell  saying,  "  I  am 
very  glad  to  see  you,  sir  !  You  are  the  family  physician, 
and  I  trust  will  now  take  charge  of  the  case." 

"  I  should  like  to  consult  with  you,  doctor,"  Kenneth 
said.  "  What  is  the  disease  ?  " 

In  answer  Dr.  Buell  gave  a  full  report  of  the  symptoms 
and  the  treatment  thus  far  ;  the  two  consulted  for  a  few 
moments,  then  went  together  to  the  sick  room. 

They  entered  noiselessly.  The  room  was  silent  as  the 
grave.  The  patient  lay  in  a  death-like  sleep  ;  and  beside 
her,  motionless  as  a  statue,  watching  intently  for  the 
slightest  movement,  sat,  not  the  mother,  she  was  too 
nervous,  too  full  of  real  or  imaginary  ailments  of  her 
own,  to  be  a  fit  nurse  for  her  child,  but  Nell  Lamar, 
sweeter,  fairer,  lovelier  in  her  lover's  eyes  than  ever 
before. 

His  heart  thrilled  with  ecstatic  joy  at  the  sight,  but 
her  eyes  remained  fixed  upon  the  deathlike  face  on  the 


2Q 2         THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

pillow,  and  a  slight  deepening  of  the  rose  on  her  cheek 
alone  gave  token  of  a  consciousness  of  their  entrance. 

They  lingered  but  a  moment,  withdrew  as  noiselessly 
as  they  had  entered,  and  held  a  second  consultation. 

Both  pronounced  it  the  crisis  of  the  disease  and 
thought  that  the  next  few  hours  would  decide  the  ques- 
tion of  life  or  death. 

"  Miss  Lamar  has  proved  herself  an  excellent  nurse," 
said  Dr.  Buell,  "  and  has  promised  to  stay,  with  her 
through  the  night.  I  meant  to  share  her  vigil,  if  you 
had  not  come,  Clendenin,  but  I  have  lost  a  good  deal  of 
rest  lately  and  have  a  very  sick  patient  of  my  own." 

"  It  is  my  turn,"  was  Kenneth's  prompt  reply,  "  and  I 
shall  not  leave  her  till  the  crisis  is  past." 

Dr.  Buell  now  took  his  departure  and  Dr.  Clendenin 
found  himself  compelled  to  spend  some  time  in  attendance 
upon  Mrs.  Barbour,  and  in  comforting  and  encouraging 
the  distressed  husband  and  father. 

At  length  he  was  free  to  return  to  the  sick  room,  and 
in  another  moment  was  standing  close  beside  her  who 
had  for  years  held  dominion  over  his  noble,  manly  heart, 
and  into  whose  ear  he  longed  with  inexpressible  longing 
to  pour  out  the  story  of  his  love. 

Yet  must  he  remain  mute,  for  no  word  might  be 
spoken  to  break  the  silence  of  the  room  where  life  and 
death  were  trembling  in  the  balance. 

But  he  stood  gazing  down  upon  the  loved  face  till 
some  magnetic  spell  forced  the  beautiful  violet  eyes  to 
lift  themselves  to  his. 

Ah,  words  were  not  needed  !  His  eyes  now  spoke  joy 
and  entreaty  too,  as  well  as  love,  and  she  knew  that  the 
barrier  which  had  so  long  separated  them,  whatever  it 
might  have  been,  was  swept  away. 


THE  THGRN  IN  THE  NEST,  293 

Her  eyes  dropped  beneath  his  ardent  gaze,  a  vivid 
charming  blush  suddenly  suffusing  her  cheek,  then  again 
yielding  to  that  magic  spell  were  timidly  raised  to  his. 

He  held  out  his  hand,  she  laid  hers  in  it  and  found  it 
held  fast  in  a  warm  tender  clasp  that  would  not  let  it  go, 
that  seemed  to  speak  proprietorship ;  and  strangely 
enough,  considering  how  highly  she  had  always  valued 
her  liberty — she  did  not  care  to  resist  the  claim,  nor  did 
she  repulse  him  even  when,  presently,  he  bowed  his 
head  and  pressed  a  passionate  kiss  upon  the  white 
fingers. 

The  patient  slept  on  ;  the  family  retired  to  rest  and 
utter  stillness  reigned  through  all  the  house  ;  outside 
there  was  the  incessant  drip,  drip  of  the  rain,  but  not  a 
solitary  footstep  passed;  it  seemed  as  though  they  two 
were  alone  in  the  world  save  for  that  motionless  form  on 
the  bed. 

There  came  another  terrific  peal  <Df  thunder,  yet  the 
sleeper  did  not  stir,  but  Nell  instinctively  drew  nearer 
her  companion,  while  he  with  the  impulse  to  protect  her, 
threw  an  arm  about  her  waist  and  drew  her  close  to  his 
side.  Neither  intended  it,  but  the  next  instant  -their  lips 
met  and  they  knew  they  were  betrothed. 

Blushing  deeply,  though  her  eyes  shone  and  her  heart 
thrilled  with  an  exquisite  joy,  Nell  would  have  withdrawn 
herself  from  his  embrace,  but  he  gently  'detained  her; 
she  was  his  and  he  could  not  let  her  go  yet  ;  and  .again 
she  yielded  to  his  stronger  will. 

She  wondered  at  her  own  submissiveness  as  she  real- 
ized to-night  that  it  was  a  positive  pleasure  to  be  ruled. 

The  hours  flew  by  on  viewless  wings  ;  it  was  no  hard 
task  to  keep  that  vigil,  yet  the  physician  was  not  forgotten 
in  the  lover. 


294  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

Toward  morning  the  patient  awoke  and  recognized  her 
watchers  with  a  pleased  smile.  The  crisis  was  safely 
passed.  Nell  knew  it  instantly  by  the  glad  look  in  the 
doctor's  face. 

He  held  a  cup  to  Flora's  lips,  saying  in  a  low  quiet 
tone,  "  Swallow  this,  my  child,  and  goto  sleep  again." 

She  obeyed.  He  drew  a  longsigh  of  relief.  He  had 
been  bending  over  her  in  intense  anxiety  for  the  last  half 
hour. 

"  Saved  !  The  Lord  be  praised !  "  he  whispered, 
turning  to  Nell  with  shining  eyes.  Then,  taking  her 
hand,  "  My  darling,  my  own,  is  it  not  so-?  " 

She  astonished  herself  and  him  by  bursting  into  a  pas- 
sion of  tears. 

It  was  simply  overwrought  nerves.  She  had  been  ex- 
ceedingly anxious  about  Flora  and  had  watched  beside 
her  day  and  night  for  nearly  a  week.  After  months 
of  mental  disquietude  because  of  apparently  unrequited 
love,  the  revulsion  of  feeling  was  too  sudden  and  too 
great  for  the-  worn  ©ut  physical  frame,  and  this  was  the 
result. 

He  understood  ft  in  a  moment. 

"  Let  the  tears  have  their  way,"  he  said  tenderly  ;  "  it 
will  do  you  good.  I  will  leave  you  for  a  little,  while  I 
carry  this  good  news  to  the  anxious  parents." 

By  the  time  he  came  back  Nell  had  recovered  her 
composure,  but  was  too  shamefaced  to  look  at  him. 

"  Well,  fair  lady,  will  you  vouchsafe  an  answer  to  my 
question  now  ?  "  he  asked,  kneeling  before  her  and  taking 
both  hands  in  his,  while  he  looked  into  her  eyes  with  his 
own  brimful  of  tenderness,  love  and  joy. 

"I'm  not  worth  having,"  she  answered  with  unwonted 
humility,  speaking^in  the  whispered  tone  that  he  had  used. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         295 

"  That  is  for  me  to  judge,"  he  returned,  with  laughing 
eyes.  "  But  do  be  kind  enough  to  answer  my  question. 
Or  let  me  put  it  in  another  form.  Will  you  have  me, 
have  me  for  protector  and  provider,  lover,  husband  and 
friend  ? " 

"  Yes,  if  you  will  take  me  in  exchange,  and  not  think  it 
a  bad  bargain,"  she  said  with  a  sudden  impulse,  and  hid 
her  blushing  face  on  his  breast  as  he  folded  her  close 
with  a  glad  solemn  "  God  bless  you,  my  darling  !  I  shall 
be  the  gainer  a  thousand  fold  !  " 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

THE  storm  was  over  and  the  rain  drops  on  tree,  shrub 
and  flower,  glittered  like  untold  wealth  of  diamonds  in 
the  bright  rays  of  the  newly  risen  sun,  as  Clendenin  and 
Nell  walked  down  the  street  together. 

There  was  nothing  in  the  looks  or  manner  of  either 
to  excite  curiosity  or  suspicion  in  those  who  saw  them 
pass. 

He  left  her  at  her  brother's  door  with  a  half  playful 
order,  not  from  the  lover  but  the  physician,  to  take  some 
breakfast  and  go  directly  to  bed  and  to  sleep. 

"  I  shall  not  promise,"  she  answered  saucily,  lifting  a 
a  pair  of  bright,  roguishly  smiling  eyes  to  his  face,  "  I 
have  not  resigned  my  liberty  yet,  you  know." 

"Ah  well,  I  think  I  may  count  on  obedience,"  he 
said  with  the  grave,  tender  smile  that  had  first  won  her 
heart. 

"  I  want  you  to  rest  all  day  and  let  me  come  to  you  this 
evening,"  he  whispered,  bending  down  to  speak  close  to 
her  ear,  "  I  have  much  to  tell  you,  my  darling.  You  have 
a  right  to  know  what  so  long  prevented  my  lips  from 
repeating  the  story  you  must  have  read  a  thousand 
times  in  my  eyes,  if  they  spoke  the  true  language  of  my 
heart." 

"  Never  mind,  I  am  quite  content  without  the  knowl- 
edge if,  as  your  face  seems  to  say,  it  is  something  pain- 
ful," she  said  with  generous  confidence,  and  sudden 
gravity  of  looks  and  tone. 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        297 

"  Nay,  dearest,  you  shall  hear  it.  I  will  have  no  secrets 
from  her  who  is  to  be  '  bone  of  my  bone  and  flesh  of  my 
flesh,'  the  nearest  and  dearest  of  all  created  beings,"  he 
said,  lifting  her  hands  to  his  lips. 

Her  eyes  filled  with  happy,  grateful  tears,  as  from 
the  vine  covered  porch  where  they  had  had  their  chat, 
she  watched  him  hurrying  away  down  the  street,  then 
turned  and  went  into  the  house. 

"Was  that  Dr.  Clendenin  ?  "  asked  Clare,  meeting  her 
in  the  hall. 

"  Yes." 

"Why  didn't  he  come  in  and  take  breakfast  with 
us  ? " 

"  I  didn't  ask  him." 

"  You  didn't  ?  Nell  Lamar,  I'm  ashamed  of  your  rude 
behavior  to  that  man  !  If  he  treats  you  henceforward  with 
the  coldest  politeness,  I  am  sure  it  will  be  no  more  than 
you  deserve." 

A  curious  smile  trembled  about  the  corners  of  Nell's 
lips  for  an  instant,  then  was  gone. 

"  Flora  has  passed  the  crisis,"  she  remarked,  "  and  the 
doctor  says  will  get  well  if  she  has  proper  care." 

"  Oh,  I  am  glad  !  " 

"  Can  you  take  my  place  for  to-day  ?  He  wouldn't  let 
me  stay,  and  her  mother  would  kill  her  with  the  fretting 
and  worrying." 

"  No  wonder  he  wouldri  t  let  you  stay.  You  look 
wretchedly  tired.  Yes  ;  I'll  go  over  presently.  You'd 
better  eat  your  breakfast  at  once  and  go  directly  to 
bed." 

"  I  will,"  Nell  answered  with  unaccustomed  meekness, 
and  proceeded  to  redeem  her  promise  without  delay. 

Kenneth,  too,  needed  rest  after  his  wearisome  journey 


298  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

and  long  night  vigil,  but  did  not  seek  it  till  a  letter  tell- 
ing of  his  great  happiness  had  been  written  to  the  dear 
ones  at  Glen  Forest,  and  sent  to  the  mail  by  Zeb. 

Nell  came  down  at  tea-time  to  find  the  major  alone  in 
,±he  parlor.  He  looked  up  on  her  entrance,  with  a  smile 
that  brought  swift  blushes  to  her  cheek,  then  rose  and 
came  to  meet  her. 

"  I  know  all  about  it,  Nell,"  he  said,  giving  her  a 
brotherly  kiss.  "  You  have  made  me  very  happy  by  the 
wisdom  of  your  choice ;  I  shall  be  proud  of  my  new 
brother.  Ah,  here  he  is  just  coming  in  at  the  gate  !  You 
must  let  me  share  the  pleasure  of  his  society  now,  and 
after  tea  I  will  take  care  that  you  have  the  parlor  to  your- 
selves." 

Kenneth's  eyes  shone  at  sight  of  his  betrothed.  Sleep 
had  refreshed  her  and  restored  her  bloom,  and  her  simple 
white  dress  with  no  ornaments  save  a  few  delicate,  sweet- 
scented  blossoms  at  her  throat  and  in  her  hair  was  very 
becoming. 

The  major  kept  his  word,  and  early  in  the  evening  they 
found  themselves  sole  occupants  of  the  parlor. 

Then,  seated  by  her  side,  with  her  hand  in  his,  Ken- 
neth told  the  story  of  his  birth  and  the  accompanying 
tragedy  ;  then  went  on  to  tell  of  the  removal  of  his  sup- 
posed parents  to  Glen  Forest,  and  of  the  life  there. 

He  described  his  childhood  as  bright  and  happy. 
Angus  and  he  believed  themselves,  and  were  believed  by 
others  to  be  twins.  They  were  devotedly  attached  and 
almost  inseparable.  The  parents  made  no  difference 
between  them,  and  indeed,  had  no  reason  for  so  doing,  as 
they  were  entirely  unable  to  decide  which  of  the  two  was 
their  own  child. 

The  boys  knew  nothing  about  the  circumstances  attend- 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.  299 

ing  their  birth  except  that  at  or  near  that  time  there  had 
been  an  attack  by  the  Indians  in  which  their  mother's 
stepfather  had  been  slain,  and  that  the  shock  had  killed 
his  wife  ;  she  being  just  then  very  ill  and  weak. 

They  could  perceive  that  their  mother  was  at  times  op- 
pressed with  sad  memories  of  that  fearful  past,  but  for  the 
most  part  she  was  very  cheerful,  and  they  found  her  ever 
ready  to  sympathize  with  them  in  joy  as  well  as  grief. 

The  father  was  inclined  to  be  somewhat  strict  in  his 
dicipline,but  kind  and  genial,  a  parent  whom  they  sincerely 
loved  and  respected. 

Nell  listened  with  intense  interest  ;  wondering  within 
herself  too,  why  the  doubt  as  to  which  of  the  two  couples 
were  his  true  parents  should  have  been,  as  she  began  to 
perceive  that  it  had,  a  reason  why  Dr.  Clendenin  should 
feel  that  marriage  was  not  for  him  ;  in  either  case  his  birth 
was  not  ignoble. 

He  paused,  seeming  for  a  moment  lost  in  painful 
thought,  then  casting  it  off  with  a  slight  sigh,  went  on. 

"  Yes,  ours  was  a  very  happy  childhood  till  we,  Angus 
and  I,  were  about  twelve  years  old.  Then  sickness  and 
death  came  into  the  family,  two  little  sisters  being  taken 
away  within  a  few  weeks  of  each  other. 

"  The  heart  of  the  tender  mother  seemed  wellnigh 
broken  ;  but  alas  !  the  time  came  when  she  was  unutter- 
ably thankful  for  their  early  removal  to  a  better  land. 

"  There  were  still  two  little  ones,  a  brother  and  sister, 
left,  and  within  the  next  two  years  Marian  was  born. 

"Troubles  came  thick  and  fast  during  the  first  year  of 
her  life.  There  was  a  great  and  sudden  change  in  our 
father.  He  had  received  a  package  of  letters  and  papers 
from  England,  and  from  the  hour  of  their  perusal  was  a 
strangely  altered  man  ;  silent,  morose,  disinclined  to  mix 


300  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

with  his  fellowsr  or  even  with  his  own  family,  and  at  times 
looking  haggard  and  wretched  in  the  extreme. 

"  It  was  a  sad  mystery  to  us  boys,  but  mother,  who 
seemed  to  have  a  sorrowful  understanding  of  it,  hushed 
every  enquiry  into  its  cause,  and  would  suffer  no  allusion 
to  it  in  her  presence. 

"  A  few  months  later  came  one  of  the  sorest  trials  of 
my  life,"  continued  Kenneth,  his  voice  trembling  with 
excess  of  feeling.  "  Angus,  my  twin  brother,  my  second 
self,  was  accidentally  drowned.  I  cannot  dwell  upon  the 
particulars,but  shall  never  forget  my  mother's  look  of  woe, 
her  white  despairing  face,  as  the  dripping  corpse  was 
borne  and  laid  down  before  her,  nor  the  strange  unnatural 
laugh,  the  expression  of  mingled  agony  and  triumphant 
pleasure,  with  which  the  father  bent  over  his  dead  son, 
saying,  '  It's  better  so  !  Wife,  why  do  you  grieve  ?  I've 
no  tear  to  shed  for  him.' 

"  I  was  inexpressibly  shocked  and  very  angry  at  what  I 
deemed  his  heartlessness. 

"  This  mother  saw,  with  deep  sorrow ;  she  loved  her 
husband  devotedly,  and  could  not  bear  to  have  him  un- 
justly blamed.  She  felt,  too,  that  it  would  be  necessary  at 
some  time  for  me  to  know  the  fatal  secret.  So  one  day, 
after  the  grave  had  closed  over  all  that  remained  of  our 
loved  one,  she  sought  me  in  my  room  and  told  me  all. 

"  Her  husband  was  an  only  child,  had  lost  his  father 
by  death  shortly  before  coming  to  this  country.  Of  his 
mother  he  had  no  recollection,  but  had  always  under- 
stood that  she  had  died  soon  after  his  birth. 

"  That,  however,  was  not  the  case,  and  those  letters 
from  England  had  revealed  to  him  the  fact  that  she  had 
only  just  died,  at  the  time  when  they  were  written  ;  died 
in  a  mad -house,  a  furious,  raving  maniac,  having  been  in 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.        301 

that  condition  for  many  years  ;  also  that  such  had  been 
her  mother's  fate,  and  that  of  several  others  of  the 
family  ;  in  short,  insanity  was  undoubtedly  hereditary. 

"  From  the  moment  of  learning  all  this  he  had  felt  that 
his  doom  was  sealed,  and  that  of  each  of  his  children 
also. 

"  I  cannot  describe  to  you  the  horror  and  fear  that 
came  over  me  as  I  listened  to  the  tale.  Then  mother 
told  me,  oh,  so  gently  and  tenderly,  of  the  mystery  that 
hung  over  my  birth  ;  leaving,  while  it  almost  orphaned 
me,  a  faint  hope  that  that  fearful  curse  was  not  mine. 

"  And  now  you  know,  sweet  one,  why,  when  I  would 
fain  have  poured  into  your  ear  the  story  of  my  love,  my 
lips  were  sealed.  I  could  not  ask  you  to  link  your  life 
with  that  of  one  for  whom  so  sad  a  fate  might  be  in  store. 
I  dared  not  risk  the  transmission  to  futuregenerations  of 
a  curse  so  fearful. 

"  But  God,  in  His  great  mercy,  has  sent  me  the  knowl- 
edge that  it  is  not  mine,"  he  added,  with  a  look  of  deep- 
est gratitude  and  joy. 

"  And  I  was  at  times  shamefully  angry  with  you,"  mur- 
mured Nell,  penitent  tears  shining  in  her  eyes. 

"  I  cannot  blame  you  under  the  circumstances,"  he 
said,  smiling  tenderly  upon  her. 

"  And  this  was  the  explanation  of  the  rumors  that 
reached  us  of  some  white  woman,  living  among  the 
Indians,  giving  testimony  before  the  squire  in  regard  to 
some  matter  of  importance  to  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it  was  Reumah  Clark."  And  he  went  on  to  give 
a  narrative  of  his  interview  with  her,  then  to  finish  his 
story  of  the  life  at  Glen  Forest. 

The  two  remaining  little  ones  older  than  Marian,  had 
followed  Angus  to  the  better  land  in  the  course  of  a  few 


302  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

months,  leaving  her  sole  inheritor — -after  her  father — of 
that  terrible  curse. 

He  described,  in  moving  words,  his  own  and  the 
mother's  anxiety  for  her,  and  for  the  wretched  husband 
and  father ;  the  wife's  life  of  devotion  to  him,  the  long 
years  of  fear  and  care,  of  untiring  sympathy  and  love,  of 
faith  and  submission  ;  rewarded  at  last  by  seeing  him 
pass  peacefully  away  to  another  and  happier  existence, 
for  he  had  gone  trusting  in  a  crucified  and  risen 
Saviour. 

Marian,  still  spared  to  them,  was  now  their  one  great 
anxiety,  but  he  was  hopeful  for  her.  She  had  stood 
some  severe  tests  of  late,  and  it  might  -be,  he  trusted  it 
was  the  case,  that  her  mental  powers  and  peculiarities 
were  inherited  from  her  mother's  side  of  the  house,  or 
her  father's  paternal  ancestors ;  all  of  whom  were  free 
from  that  dreaded  taint. 

"  We  have  endeavored,  and  thus  far  with  success,  to 
keep  the  fatal  secret  from  her,"  he  said,  "  deeming  that 
her  danger  would  be  greatly  enhanced  by  the  knowledge. 

"  She  has  long  known  there  was  a  grievous  thorn  in  the 
Clendenin  nest,  but  what  it  is  she  does  not  know,  and  I 
trust  never  will.  Her  mother  and  I  have  also  another 
innocent  concealment  from  her.  She  still  believes  that  I 
am  her  brother  by  right  of  birth  ;  and  we  do  not  intend 
that  she  shall  ever  be  undeceived." 

"  No  ;  it  would  be  very  cruel  to  rob  her  of  the  blessed- 
ness of  believing  that,"  Nell  said,  with  the  sweetest  look 
in  her  beautiful  eyes,  "  to  be  your  sister  would  be  the 
greatest  happiness,  except  to — " 

But  she  stopped  short,  blushing  and  confused. 

"  Except  to  be  something  far  nearer  and  dearer  ?  Ah, 
tell  me  that  was  what  you  were  thinking,"  he  whis- 


THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST.         303 

pered,  his  eyes  shining,  as  he  bent  his  head  for  a  closer 
look  into  the  sweet,  blushing  face. 

"  Now,  don't  be  too  inquisitive,  Dr.  Clendenin,"  she 
said,  in  pretended  vexation  and  pretty  confusion. 

"  Never  mind  the  doctor,"  he  returned  gayly.  "  Ken- 
neth is  three  syllables  shorter  and  easier." 

"  But  not  so  respectful." 

"  Quite  sufficiently  so,  however.  It  is  Marian's  and 
my  mother's  name  for  me,  and  I  hope  will  be  my  wife's 
also,"  he  whispered.  "  Oh,  dearest,  how  soon  may  I 
claim  the  right  to  call  you  by  that  sweetest  of  names  ? " 

"  Ah,  don't  speak  of  that  yet !  "  she  said,  hastily,  her 
cheeks  crimsoning,  her  eyes  drooping. 

"  Forgive  me,  I  am  very  selfish,"  he  replied,  "but  it 
must  be  very  soon  or  not  for  long  weary  months,  while 
an  ocean  will  roll  between  us  ;  to  say  nothing  of  the  hun- 
dreds of  miles  of  land  that  will  separate  us  besides." 

"  What  can  you  mean  ? "  she  asked,  with  a  start  and 
look  of  surprise  and  dismay. 

Then  he  told  her  of  his  inheritance  in  England  and  the 
unfortunate  necessity  it  entailed  of  a  speedy  visit  there. 
It  could  not  well  be  deferred  till  the  ensuing  spring,  and 
must  therefore  be  undertaken  soon  if  he  would  avoid  the 
dangerous  storms  likely  to  be  encountered  in  the  fall. 

"  And  you  must  go  ? "  she  said,  struggling  to  keep  back 
her  tears. 

"  Yes,"  he  sighed.  "  I  cannot  tell  you  how  hard  it  is 
to  think  of  leaving  you  just  now,  or  how  sweet  it  would 
be  to  call  you  mine  before  I  go  ;  and  to  know  that,  if 
anything  should  befall  me,  you  would — " 

"  Oh,  don't,  don't !  "  she  cried,  the  tears  coming  now  in 
good  earnest,  "  I  can't  bear  it !  I — I  think  you  might 
ask  me  to  go  with  you." 


304  THE  THORN  IN  THE  NEST. 

"  Would  you,  oh,  would  you  ?  "  he  exclaimed  joyously. 
"  My  dear  girl,  how  very  sweet  and  kind  in  you  to  pro- 
pose  it." 

"  Did  I  ? "  she  asked,  smiling  through  her  tears,  as  she 
gently  released  herself  from  his  enraptured  embrace.  "  I 
thought  I  only  suggested  the  propriety  of  your  asking  me." 

"  1  feel  very  selfish  in  so  doing,  dearest  Nell,"  he  said, 
"  but  will  you  go  ? " 

"Yes,  if  you  really  want  me  and  will  take  me." 

"  Only  too  gladly,  ah,  you  cannot  doubt  that,  but 
have  you  thought  of  the  long,  tedious  journey  overland, 
and  the  dangers  of  the  voyage  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  and  how  can  I  let  you  meet  them  alone  ?  " 

"  Ah,  my  darling,  you  are  the  most  unselfish  of 
women,"  he  exclaimed,  regarding  her  with  tender,  lov- 
ing admiration,  "  and  I  the  happiest  of  men." 

"  But,"  said  Nell  presently,  "  you  will  have  a  poorly 
attired  bride.  I  shall  have  no  time  to  get  new  dresses 
made." 

"  Very  much  wiser  to  wait  for  that  till  we  reach  New 
York,  London  or  Paris,"  he  answered,  with  his  grave, 
tender  smile.  "  Tis  the  bird  I  would  secure,  sweet  one, 
and  I  care  not  for  the  color  or  quality  of  the  feathers  she 
may  wear." 

So  it  was  all  settled,  after  a  little  more  talk,  and  in  a 
week  they  would  be  setting  off  for  Europe  on  their  wed- 
ding tour. 

Great  were  Clare's  astonishment  and  delight  when  she 
heard  the  news. 

"  Just  the  match  I've  always  wanted  for  you,  Nell, 
even  when  I'd  no  idea  he  was  going  to  be  so  rich." 

"  He  didn't  say  it  would  be  riches,"  returned  the 
young  lady,  supremely  indifferent  to  such  trifles. 


THE  7' HORN  IN  THE  NEST.         305 

"  But  I  dare  say  it  will.  At  all  events  you  are  going 
to  Europe  for  your  wedding  trip.  Won't  the  other  girls 
envy  you  ?  Yet  I  don't  know,  Nell,  I  should  be  afraid  of 
the  sea.  What  if  you  should  be  drowned  ? " 

"  I  hope  we  shall  not,"  Nell  answered  gravely,  "  but 
even  if  we  should,  I'd  rather  die  with  Kenneth  than  live 
without  him.  And  as  to  the  envy  the  other  girls  may 
feel,  I  should  think  it  would  be  because  of  him  rather 
than  anything  else,"  she  added,  her  cheeks  glowing  and 
her  eyes  shining. 

"  Oh,  I  suppose  so  !  "  laughed  Clare.  "  It's  a  great 
shame,  though,  that  we  can't  have  a  grand  wedding  and 
elaborate  trousseau.  Still  the  means  can  be  provided  for 
that  last,  all  the  same  ;  and  it  will  be  lovely  to  have  it 
bought  in  Paris.' 


THE  END 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

405  Hilgard  Avenue,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90024-1388 

Return  this  material  to  the  library 

from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


A     000  057  863     3 


